UTAH COUNTY, Utah, July 3, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) — Four people were killed Friday when the small plane they were in crashed near Box Elder Peak in American Fork Canyon.
Officials identified the four as Tyson Brummett, 35, of Salt Lake City, and Alex Blackhurst Ruegner, 35, and his aunt and uncle, Elaine Blackhurst, 60, and Douglas Blackhurst, 62, all of Riverton.
Tyson Brummett, who was piloting the aircraft, was a former professional baseball pitcher who pitched for the L.A. Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays.
Brummett graduated from Spanish Fork High School, and attended Central Arizona College before transferring to University of California, Los Angeles, where he played college baseball.
Witnesses saw the small plane, a 1975 fixed-wing, single-engine Cessna 172M, go down Friday morning, and officials located the wreckage in the area of Box Elder Peak, above the Granite Flats Campground.
Utah County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Spencer Cannon initially said one death was confirmed prior to reaching the wreckage. After crews made the arduous climb and reached the site, they confirmed that all four on board had died.
Gephardt Daily will have more information as it becomes available.
Alex Ruegner was one of the kindest humans and soccer coaches ever. My daughter had him as a coach at Utah Glory a few years ago. He taught them so much about being good, kind people.
A true one of a kind human. Our deepest condolences to his family that lost three people dear people today. How tragic. Alex we hope there is a special handshake waiting for you. So sad.