09-02-2025
Missing 12-year-old snowmobiler found after overnight search along Utah-Idaho border
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Idaho (ABC4) — A 12-year-old boy who went missing while snowmobiling with a group near the Utah-Idaho border has been found after an overnight search in freezing temperatures, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
On Saturday afternoon, Feb. 8, the Cache County Sheriff's Office received information that a group of people snowmobiling in the Franklin Basin area had not been able to find a member of their party — a 12-year-old boy. The group had reportedly already been searching for over an hour.
The missing 12-year-old had reportedly last been seen on a yellow snowmobile in an area of Franklin County, Idaho, near the Utah border, around two and a half miles southwest of Gibson Basin.
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Cache County search and rescue personnel responded to the Franklin Basin Road trailhead in Logan Canyon at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Authorities quickly began setting up search areas and deploying search parties.
In collaboration with Franklin County search and rescue teams, these authorities responded 'on snowmobiles, OHV snow travel worthy vehicles, Pisten Bully Snow Cats, ski teams and searchers on foot,' in a joint effort to find the missing snowmobiler, according to the Cache County Sheriff's Office.
Search and rescue teams also deployed a drone fleet to map the area and search for any signs of life, 'including heat signatures and yellow snowmobiles, either stationary or moving,' the sheriff's office stated. 'The Utah Department of Public Safety deployed their helicopter to assist in the search, which also is equipped with special tools and gear designed to help in search and rescue operations.'
Authorities also tried to ping the missing boy's phone, but were unsuccessful in doing so. At around 2 a.m. Sunday morning, Weber County personnel arrived to help with the search. Conditions were described as 'artic and snowy,' with temperatures dropping below zero on the mountains.
On Sunday morning, officials with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the boy was found. Further details regarding his condition and the circumstances surrounding his rescue have not been made available.
No further information is currently available.
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