A fun day out hiking in Utah ended in tragedy.
Zoey McKinney, 17, lost her life while hiking in Kane Creek Canyon in Utah. She slipped on a steep rugged hiking trail in Kane Creek Canyon, Utah and fell 30 feet to her death.
She was walking with friends on the trail near Moab, Utah on Friday, February 10, when she fell.
The youngsters were walking on a steep area on the Moab Rim trail when McKinney lost her footing. She was not wearing any safety equipment when she fell off the ledge.
The Moab City Police Department said they received the 911 call around 4:10 pm. Responding officers tried to rescue the teenager but she had fallen far below the trail, and the area was deep with several sharp ledges.
Her friends also tried to help her before the police arrived, but there was no safe way to get her back to the trail.
An officer was able to get to the girl, using a rope and harnesses but he was too late. Unfortunately, she was already dead when the officer found her.
Moab Police Assistant Chief Lex Bell said he knew the victim and that the entire community was devastated by the news of her death.
McKinney was a student at the Grand County School. That same night, she was scheduled to receive an award during the varsity basketball game halftime.
McKinney was a cheerleader and according to her friends, had a big heart and was a loving friend.