BRIGHTON, Utah, April 19, 2023 (Gephardt Daily) — Unified Police officials have identified a 50-year-old man who was found dead after being buried in a roof avalanche in Brighton.
The victim was 50-year-old Ryan Peterson, of Holladay, Sgt. Melody Cutler, Unified Police, confirmed to Gephardt Daily.
UPD Canyon officers were dispatched at 7:35 a.m. Tuesday to a cabin at 8430 S. Brighton Loop Road, Sgt. Melody Cutler wrote in a text response.
“UPD Canyon Officers were dispatched on a welfare check,” Cutler wrote. “The victim was believed to have gone to his cabin on Monday, and no one has been able to locate him or get in touch with him.
“The victim was located outside of the cabin, he had been buried by a roof avalanche. We believe he had attempted to clear snow from the roof and came down with the snow.”
Officers were able to see a portion of his boot and an arm, Cutler wrote.
“Ryan was deceased. Canyon officers unburied him.”
Brighton officials released a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“The Mayor and Council Members of the Town of Brighton express their deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of the 50-year-old man who lost his life to a roof avalanche Monday evening. The Town is issuing the following recommendations:
- Please stay off your roofs, it is too dangerous.
- It is safer to let the snow melt naturally at this point rather than trying to remove the snow.
- If you see any deflection in your roof beams or cracked roof joints, notify a professional roofer immediately. They will have equipment to remove the snow safely and securely.
- Keep children and pets away from any areas on or around roofs.
