LAYTON -- A 50-year-old man was killed when a carport loaded with snow and ice collapsed on top of him, family and firefighters said.
The accident happened Monday morning at a home near 1600 East and 2000 North. Family members told FOX 13 that John Eaves was trying to clear the heavy snow and ice off of a carport built on the side of his home, when it collapsed.
"His wife came out here earlier and heard it kind of creak so she went in there and warned him that the carport was sagging," said Dave Eaves, John's brother.
Dave Eaves said his brother had tried to use a jack to stabilize the structure when it collapsed. Layton firefighters estimate there was as much as a foot of snow that was on the carport's roof.
"It appeared that there was a significant snow and ice load on the carport and the house. As it pulled away, you could see quite a bit of snowfall on the roof," said Layton Fire Battalion Chief Scott Maughan.
Maughan said the victim's children heard the crash and ran out to find him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"John was a great guy," Dave Eaves said. "Everybody looked forward to seeing him."
At the Eaves' home on Monday, family and friends gathered to comfort each other. Eaves managed a local Costa Vida restaurant. He leaves behind a wife and four children, ranging in age from 17 to 26. The family said they were turning to their faith to help them through this difficult time.
"He was a guy that everybody just loved to be with. He was a lot of fun," his brother said. "He spent more time chatting with the customers than serving them food. That's just the way he is. He loves being around other people."
