Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — The Utah County Sheriff's Office has identified two men who were killed in a plane crash Tuesday in Utah County near Kyhv Peak.
The deceased men were identified Wednesday as Evan Backers, 26, of South Jordan, and Collin Niemela, 23, of Springville. Originally, the sheriff's office said Backers was from Hideout, Wasatch County.
"Collin was a bright light in our lives, a source of laughter, and a true friend," a GoFundMe* campaign started by Niemela's friends states. "Whether Collin was cheering us up with his infectious laughter or lending a helping hand, his impact on our lives is immeasurable. We invite you to join us in honoring his memory by contributing to this fund."
"Evan was known for his passion and commitment to his family. He was a devoted husband and father, leaving behind his loving wife, Alexis, their 16-month-old son, Emmett, and another baby expected in April 2024. His family was the center of his world, and he loved them more than anything else," a second fundraiser for Backers states. "The loss of Evan has left a void that can never be filled."
A 23-year-old man from Santaquin is the lone survivor. At last word, he was receiving treatment at Utah Valley Hospital. His name has not been released.
Utah County search and rescue crews were notified of a possible downed aircraft about 11:15 a.m. The plane had taken off from the Spanish Fork Airport, the sheriff's office said, and went down about 300 to 400 yards off Kyhv Peak Road, which was formerly named Squaw Peak, in the mountains east of Provo.
"Those occupants died apparently on impact," Sgt. Spencer Cannon said. "It's a tough situation for a lot of people to deal with."
Crews from the Provo Fire Department were the first to spot the wreckage. Cannon said they saw the lone survivor walking outside of the plane and waving to search crews in the air. A Life Flight helicopter hoisted the 23-year-old off the mountain and to a local hospital.
Cannon said the crash site was in steep terrain that required a "pretty rugged hike" to reach the area.
"We had Life Flight in the area," he said. "They were able to get their hoist there and get the survivor hoisted out."
What happened exactly remained unclear and Cannon said investigators only spoke to the survivor briefly before he was sedated for treatment at Utah Valley Hospital.
Cannon said that the survivor was able to walk away from the crash was remarkable.
"The fact that somebody might be able to survive when two others did not tells you that timing was just right for that person," Cannon said. "Anytime somebody survives a landing essentially that's not on a runway, they're very, very fortunate."
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
