A couple from Texas who went missing in Utah were apparently swept away by flash flooding while riding on a trail in their UTV over the weekend, authorities said.
Ray and Maranda Ankowski were exploring the Steelbenders Off-Road Trail area of Moab, their family said. FOX13 Salt Lake City. They were last seen on Friday, before severe thunderstorms hit the Moab area.
“They are adventurers and have camped in places like this before, but they had not been seen returning to the hotel for several days,” Ray’s sister, Donna Stevens, told the station, adding that she believed it was their first time hiking the Steelbender Trail.
The storm caused flash flooding that trapped many hikers in the area, and Grand County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue said at least 20 hikers were rescued from Grandstaff Canyon during a six-hour search.
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Ray and Maranda Ankowski were reported missing Monday after storms hit the Moab, Utah, area where they were riding on a trail in a UTV. (The Ankowski Family, via KSTU)
Authorities launched a search and rescue effort after the couple was reported missing on Monday, and the Grand County Sheriff’s Office said the couple’s UTV was found in the Steele Bender Trail area.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Mike Palmer told FOX 13 the UTV was likely swept away by flash flooding during the storm and sustained extensive damage.
Authorities said the Ankowskis’ UTV was damaged and their belongings were scattered across a three-mile stretch of the canyon. (The Ankowski Family, via KSTU)
“Their UTV was probably flooded about three-quarters to a mile and swept into the riverbed and over the falls,” Palmer said. “Their equipment and belongings are scattered over a three-mile stretch of this canyon.”
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No further updates on the search were immediately provided.
The Grand County Sheriff’s Office released photos of Highway 128 covered in mud after severe thunderstorms caused flash flooding in the area. (Grand County Sheriff’s Office)
Ms Stevens told the station the family is “heartbroken” as they wait for news about the missing couple.
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“At this point we’re just praying that they find a way or that someone finds them,” she said.
