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HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Air Force base officials announced Tuesday the identity of an airman killed in a snowmobiling accident Sunday.
Airman 1st Class Christopher Martinez, 22, was killed earlier this week when the snowmobile he was riding rolled down a steep embankment in the Monte Cristo Range. Martinez was pinned underneath the snowmobile and friends could not find vital signs, Weber County Sheriff's Office deputies said.
"The death of Airman 1st Class Christopher Martinez is a tragic loss to our Air Force family and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time," said Lt. Col. Darin Humiston, Martinez's squadron commander. "He was a valuable member of Team Hill and will be greatly missed by all."
Martinez was serving as a Ground Radar Journeyman in the 729th Air Control Squadron. He had been in the Air Force since March 1, 2011 and spent most of that time at Hill Air Force Base. Martinez was deployed earlier this year for a six-month tour to Southwest Asia.
Sunday, Martinez had spent the day snowmobiling in the Monte Cristo Range with two other airmen and a civilian. The crash occurred approximately five miles from the snowmobile parking lot in the Dry Bread area along state Route 39.
Martinez was heading down a steep embankment about 100 yards off the road when the snowmobile crashed. When others in the party reached the road and Martinez did not appear, they climbed the embankment to find him pinned and unresponsive, deputies said.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, base officials said.
