7th Zion hiker body found; another search in Arizona

While Zion National Park rangers announced they had located the last missing hiker from Monday's torrential flooding, a search for another possible victim is underway in extreme northern Arizona.

The flooding rocked two separate areas of Utah Monday. In Hildale, two cars carrying 16 people were swept away, killing at least a dozen people. A 6-year-old boy, identified as Tyson Lucas Black, was in one of the cars and is still missing as of Thursday afternoon, officials said.

About 20 miles to the north seven hikers in Zion who had been seen entering Keyhole Canyon, a challenging route on the east side of the park that requires visitors to swim through several pools of water and rappel down steep slopes, were swept away by the fast-moving floodwaters.

On Thursday, officials said there might be at least one more victim.

Mohave County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Trish Carter said search and rescue personnel are looking for Ryan Mertlich, 33.

Carter said Mertlich was reported missing Tuesday morning after failing to return to his home in Hurricane City, Utah, on Monday night.

An aerial search located Mertlich's 1990 Geo Tracker late Wednesday afternoon, about 15 miles west of Colorado City.

Carter said it appeared that the vehicle had been swept away by floodwater. She said personnel from multiple agencies are looking for Mertlich.

In Zion, park rangers announced Thursday morning that they had located the last of seven hikers who died while hiking in Keyhole Canyon during Monday's flooding.

Two of the victims were identified late Wednesday by California's Ventura County Sheriff's Office as Sgt. Steve Arthur, 58, and his wife, Linda Arthur, 57. He was a 21-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, according to the department.

Linda Arthur's body was the last of the hikers to be found.

"Steve was known for his tireless efforts working with local youth both on and off duty and possessed a huge compassion for humanity," said a department news release. The Arthurs are survived by three adult children and seven grandchildren.

All seven hikers were identified by Zion National Park Thursday night.

Don Teichner, 55, of Mesquite, was the only person from Nevada. All of the others were from California: Mark MacKenzie, 56, lived in Valencia, while the Arthurs and Robin Brum, 53, were from Camarillo. Gary Favela, 51, of Rancho Cucamonga, and Muku Reynolds, 59, of Chino, were also in the group.

Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh expressed his condolences for the friends and families of the hikers who died and thanked search and rescue workers in a prepared statement. More than 60 searchers from multiple agencies contributed more 1,135 hours' work to find the missing people, according to park officials.

"We have witnessed an incredible community of the family members and friends of the canyoneers come together to support one another," he said.

Wesley Juhl and Reuters contributed to this report. Contact Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @coltonlochhead.