uary, Death – The coroner has confirmed the identity of the individual who lost his life following a helicopter crash on the ice of Ririe Reservoir on Thursday evening.
Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez has identified the deceased as 59-year-old Bradford Brown, a resident of Alpine, Utah. The investigation remains active, but Sanchez indicates that Brown is thought to have been the pilot of the aircraft.
Kelvyn Cullimore, the CEO and president of BioUtah, stated that Brown was the CEO and founder of ATL Technology, located in Springville, Utah, which focused on the production of medical devices. Additionally, Brown served as a board member for BioUtah.
“Brad Brown was a remarkable leader in the industry and a cornerstone of the medical device sector, not only in Utah but globally. He embodied the entrepreneurial spirit, transforming ATL Technology into a global enterprise that manufactures devices for nine of the top ten device manufacturers worldwide,” Cullimore remarked in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com. “He was devoted to his family, a committed Christian, and had a deep passion for flying, a skill he honed over many years. His passing is a significant loss to our life sciences community in Utah, where he held various executive leadership roles within BioUtah, the state’s trade association for life sciences. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Shannon, his family, and the entire ATL team.”
Brown’s online biography highlights his achievements as a private pilot, with over 4,200 flight hours in both helicopters and airplanes. Local flight radar data indicates that the helicopter, a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, departed from Rexburg–Madison County Airport at approximately 4:16 p.m. on Thursday. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office reported that the crash occurred around 4:40 p.m., roughly one mile east of the Ririe Dam.
One passenger was taken to East Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, though their identity and condition remain undisclosed.
Following the crash notification to dispatch, emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, utilizing snow machines from the Juniper Campground area near Meadow Creek Road.
A downed power line was also found at the site.
