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TOOELE — Crews have found the body of a 14-year-old boy who was missing after he and a friend fell through the ice at Settlement Canyon Reservoir on Monday night.
Search and rescue teams found the teen's body just after midnight.
Around 7 p.m. Monday, emergency dispatchers received a report that someone had fallen through the ice at the reservoir. Officers responded and learned that three males — ages 14, 16 and 18 — were on the ice when the ice broke, said Tooele Police Lt. Jeremy Hansen.
The 14-year-old boy and the 18-year-old fell through the ice, and the 18-year-old escaped. The 16-year-old teen ran up the road and had someone help him call 911, Hansen said.
Search and rescue teams searched late into the night to find the teen's body Tooele County School District spokesman Brett Valdez said he was a Tooele High student, and police later identified the boy as Jayden Davis.
Jayden was on both the high school's football and boys basketball teams as a quarterback and a point guard.
"We are saddened and hurting following the tragic accident at Settlement Canyon Reservoir Monday night involving a Tooele High student. Our hearts go out to the family and friends during this difficult time," Valdez said in a statement. "There is a crisis team and counselors available at Tooele High School for any student, faculty and staff who would like to talk with someone."
14-year-old Jayden Davis is the Tooele teenager who drowned after falling through ice at Settlement Canyon Reservoir last night. His family says he was quite the athlete... playing varsity sports as a freshman. We'll have a story about him and what he loved on @KSL5TV at 5 and 6. pic.twitter.com/109jiNpAIj
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) February 14, 2023
What the three were doing on the ice is unknown.
"The ice is not thick at all and it's creating issues for the recovery effort itself," Hansen said Monday night, adding that the ice was breaking as police officers went out to search for the boy.
"One actually fell all the way through," Hansen said. "The other officers on scene helped him back up on top of the ice. He was warmed up in the back of the ambulance and is fine."
He said a couple of firefighters also partially fell through the ice.
Two helicopters helped in the search, including a Utah Department of Public Safety chopper. The department's dive team arrived at around 10 p.m. to aid in the search, as well.
The National Weather Service is urging individuals to stay informed about the thickness of ice on area lakes and waterways before fishing, walking or skating on ice.
"Know before you go and test the ice before going too far out," the service said in a tweet, adding that ice below 2 inches is not safe to walk or fish on.
How thick is the ice? Your National Weather Service urges you to keep informed about the thickness of ice on area lakes and waterways before you choose to fish, walk or skate this winter. Know before you go and test the ice before going too far out. pic.twitter.com/EkiWi9spEp
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) February 14, 2023
Contributing: Karah Brackin and Sydnee Gonzalez
