facebook-pixel

Family IDs the Utah man killed in flash flooding on Sunday

The 48-year-old coal miner was swept away by a “wall of water.”

(Emery County Sheriff's Office) A miner was killed in a flash flood at the Gentry Mountain Mine on Sunday.

A coal miner killed in a flash flood on Sunday in Emery County was “the rock of [his] family and the main supporter,” according to his sister-in-law.

Gary Nelson. 48, died when he was swept away by “a wall of water and debris” as he was traveling toward the Gentry Mountain Mine in Bear Canyon, according to the Emery County Sheriff’s Office. After searching through the night, his body was located about 6 miles downstream at about 11:15 a.m. on Monday.

Nelson’s sister-in-law, Alexis Lee Olsen, organized a GoFundMe page to help “my sister and her girls until things get situated without having to stress about money while they are going through this grieving process.” As of early Tuesday morning, it has raised almost $3,500 of its $10,000 goal.

Help The Tribune report the stories others can’t—or won’t.

For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn’t be possible without people like you—individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism.  As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.

You can help power this work.