Utah CEO Dies in Helicopter Crash

Image credits: Courtesy Timothy Collins and BioUtah website

The coroner has identified the man who died after a helicopter crashed into the ice on Ririe Reservoir Thursday evening. Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez identified the man as 59-year-old Bradford Brown from Alpine, Utah. The investigation is ongoing, but Sanchez says Brown is believed to have been the pilot. According to Kelvyn Cullimore, the CEO and president of BioUtah, Brown was the CEO and founder of ATL Technology in Springville, Utah, which specialized in manufacturing medical devices. Brown was also a board member for BioUtah.

Brown’s online biography mentions he was an accomplished private pilot, having flown both helicopters and airplanes with over 4,200 hours. The helicopter was a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X and took off from Rexburg–Madison County Airport around 4:16 p.m. Thursday. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office reported the crash happened around 4:40 p.m. about a mile east of the Ririe Dam. One passenger was transported to East Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. Their identity and condition are unknown.

After the crash was reported to dispatch, emergency crews rushed to the scene and deployed on snow machines from the Juniper Campground area near Meadow Creek Road. A downed power line was discovered in the area where the crash occurred. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including Idaho Falls Fire, Jefferson Central Fire, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Fish and Game, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Bonneville County Fire Ammon Division, Bonneville County Coroner’s Office, Dive Rescue and Drone Teams. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash, which involved a helicopter striking a power line before crashing on the ice.

Recovery crews are expected to remain at the area through Friday as they attempt to get the helicopter off the ice. Bonneville County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan Lovell says the area is still closed and asks the public to avoid it, as the ice is thin and the downed power line could potentially cause dangerous conditions. The circumstances of why the helicopter was in that area are still being confirmed and the investigation is continuing. The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time.

The incident has sparked an outpouring of condolences for Brown's family and the community. Brown was a well-respected figure in the medical device industry, and his loss is being felt by many. As the investigation continues, more information is expected to be released about the cause of the crash and the circumstances surrounding the incident. For now, the community is coming together to support those affected by the tragedy.