PROVO, Utah — Two teen boys are recovering after being caught in a rockslide in central Utah.
16-year-old Braxton Lyons and 13-year-old Kayden Olsen spent Sunday hunting turkeys.
While driving home to Gunnison, the truck they were in was hit by several large boulders on Willowcreek Road, northeast of Salina.
The impact from the rocks pushed the truck off the road.
“They were off in a ravine,” said Kimberly Dumas, Braxton’s aunt. “The rocks had come down and they were down in that ravine.”
Braxton suffered the most serious injuries. After being rescued by Sevier County Search & Rescue, he was flown to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo.
“It makes me sick,” Dumas said. “I don’t know how they survived but somebody was watching over them.”
Kayden is now recovering at home.
Braxton suffered several injuries including bleeding on the brain, a shattered shoulder, six broken ribs, a broken arm and bruised lungs. He is currently in intensive care.
“It breaks my heart that he is in there,” Dumas said. “Doing something just innocent and in a split second his whole life has changed.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only Braxton’s mom is allowed to be with him in the hospital.
“She’s grateful that she can be in there,” Dumas said.
Doctors estimate he could spend up to two weeks in the hospital. Braxton’s family is thankful he will be able to return home.
“Please pray for him,” Dumas said. “Keep your fingers crossed that everything from here on out goes good. They got this.”
Because of the nature of the injuries, both families face huge medical bills. GoFundMe accounts for Braxton and Kayden have been established.
