In brief
During a weekend hiking outing near Bicknell, Utah, heavy rains turned the area into a deadly flash flood. Five members of a single family, including a respected fire captain, lost their lives. Emergency responders were called to the scene after the first victim was found, and the search for the remaining family members confirmed their deaths the following day. The tragedy has shocked the local community and brought attention to the risks of rapidly rising waters in Utah’s wilderness.
Five members of a Utah family were killed in a flash flood on a recent weekend while hiking in the southern part of the state. The victims included fire captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their three sons Reid, Thayne and Gage. Only their daughter survived, having stayed away from the outing.
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office officials say the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains, though they did not disclose names. The identities were confirmed by Provo Fire & Rescue, which publicly announced the loss of Captain Long and his family.
A GoFundMe page links the sheriff’s statement with the department’s findings, noting the family’s sudden loss and the profound impact on their daughter.
Officials were first called to the campground near Bicknell at 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Friday, where one young male victim was found alive but deceased. A subsequent search uncovered two additional dead men, and by Saturday the remaining two were also confirmed dead.
The tragedy underscores the unpredictable danger of flash flooding, especially for those venturing into remote wilderness areas.
Image source: Provo Fire & Rescue
