Five members of Utah family killed in flash flood at Bicknell campground
A fire captain, his wife and three sons died after a flash flood swept through a canyon near Bicknell, Utah, while a daughter who was not on the trip survived.
A flash flood in a red-rock canyon near Bicknell, Utah, killed five members of a family who were on a day hike on Friday, authorities said. The victims were identified by the Provo Fire Department as fire captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina Long and their three sons, Reid, Thayne and Gage. Their daughter, who was not part of the outing, survived.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said the family arrived at Sunglow Campground for the excursion and were caught by flooding caused by heavy rains. Deputies were called to the site after a young male’s body was found in the flood wash, and the remaining bodies were recovered later that night and the following day.
"It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains," the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
"We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time," the fire department wrote on social media.
A GoFundMe page created by a family friend seeks support for the surviving daughter, while a medical spa co-founded by Katrina Long posted a statement expressing sympathy for the family.