Authorities Identify Rochester Girl Killed in Utah Avalanche

ROCHESTER (WBSM) — The Rochester girl who was killed while on a family vacation in Utah has been identified, and her cause of death revealed.

On Friday, Old Rochester Superintendent of Schools Michael S. Nelson announced that a student at Rochester Memorial School had passed away as a result of a “tragic accident” while on vacation. He provided no further details.

Madelyn Eitas Identified by Utah Authorities

The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake later put out a press release identifying her as 11-year-old Madelyn Eitas.

Avalanche Occurred at Brighton Ski Resort

According to Unified Police, Madelyn was on vacation with her family at the Brighton Ski Resort in Brighton, Utah, and passed away following an avalanche.

Brother Helped Locate Madelyn Under Snow

First responders arrived to find Madelyn’s family and 20 other people searching the area for her. Police said her brother Cameron Eitas “heroically used an application to locate her.” She was found and transported to a hospital in critical condition, where she later died.

Fox 13 reported the avalanche occurred in an area known as “The Rock Garden,” which had reportedly been closed to skiers at the time, and that Madelyn had been under the snow for as long as 30 minutes before she was found.

Rochester Police Chief Pays Tribute, Calls for Community to Come Together

Rochester Police Chief Michael A. Assad, Jr. put out a statement on the department’s Facebook page Saturday morning, calling Madelyn’s passing “a life so young, full of promise, kindness, and joy, taken far too soon.”

“As Chief of Police – and more importantly, as a member of this close-knit community – I am asking each of us to come together during this incredibly difficult time,” he wrote. “Rochester has always been a town that shows up. We show up for our neighbors. We show up in times of need. And right now, the Eitas family needs us. They need our compassion. They need our support. They need our strength.”

“Madelyn will never be forgotten. Her spirit will live on in the hearts of her family, her friends, her classmates, and this entire community,” Assad wrote. “Let us honor her by coming together – stronger, kinder, and more united than ever.”