Skiers Describe Trying to Help Avalanche Victim Near Brighton

Friends say they were in the same area when a young girl was killed in a deadly slide.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Several friends, including siblings Maggie and Harrison Garner and their friend Darius Christensen, were skiing in the backcountry near Brighton Ski Resort when they encountered the aftermath of a deadly avalanche that killed a young girl. The group said they quickly joined others to start probing the snow and searching for the victim, but she did not survive.

Why it matters

Avalanche safety and awareness is an important issue in Utah's ski communities, as these tragic incidents can happen quickly and unexpectedly, even in areas that may seem safe. The friends' efforts to assist in the rescue highlight the importance of community response in emergency situations.

The details

The group of friends said they noticed the snow looked different as they were skiing in an area that police described as 'out of bounds' of the Brighton Ski Resort. They then learned that a young girl had been buried in the avalanche and quickly joined the search efforts to try to dig her out, but she did not survive and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

  • The avalanche occurred on Thursday near Brighton Ski Resort.
  • It was the second deadly avalanche in Utah in two days.

The players

Maggie Garner

A student at Utah Valley University who was skiing with her brother and friend when they encountered the aftermath of the avalanche.

Harrison Garner

Maggie Garner's brother, a junior at Bingham High School, who was also skiing with the group.

Darius Christensen

A 9th grader at South Jordan Middle School who was skiing with the Garner siblings when they came across the avalanche scene.

Heidi Christensen

Darius Christensen's mother, who said she had warned her son to stay out of the backcountry but was grateful he and his friends tried to help in the rescue effort.

Unified Police

The law enforcement agency that responded to the avalanche incident and provided details about the location and victim.

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What they’re saying

“It was kind of just like a surreal thing. We were like, 'what's even really happening right now?'”

— Maggie Garner (ksltv.com)

“It was just scary and crazy.”

— Harrison Garner (ksltv.com)

“And I was like, oh, it was an avalanche.”

— Darius Christensen (ksltv.com)

“In a moment of dire need, everybody came together and was like, 'we need to get to work and save this girl.'”

— Darius Christensen (ksltv.com)

“My heart sank for that poor family because I can't imagine going through something like that. You just hope that they're surrounded by a lot of love and compassion because none of us ever know what is coming our way, and freak accidents happen.”

— Heidi Christensen, Darius Christensen's mother (ksltv.com)

What’s next

Unified police are continuing to investigate the incident and provide support to the victim's family.

The takeaway

This tragic avalanche serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of backcountry safety and the need for skiers and snowboarders to be vigilant about weather conditions and terrain, even in areas adjacent to ski resorts. The community's response in trying to rescue the victim also highlights the value of preparedness and the willingness to assist others in times of crisis.