Burned body found in car is identified as Taylorsville man

Investigators have identified a body found inside the shell of a burned car in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

The body was found Monday in the Spruces campground area. Both the victim and the car were burned extensively. Investigators located a license plate in the burned debris and determined the vehicle's owner. Family members confirmed the victim had not been seen since Sunday, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson.

During an autopsy, a medical examiner compared dental records and identified the victim as Lorin Deloy Fischer, 28, of Taylorsville.

The campground is closed for the winter. Detectives believe the fire happened sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday and 9:45 a.m. Monday. There were no known witnesses.

Hutson previously said there was no evidence of foul play, but homicide had not been completely ruled out. Hutson said the evidence was strongly pointing to suicide.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detective April Morse at 801-743-5890.

— Pat Reavy

Man dies while skiing at Deer Valley

PARK CITY — A man died Wednesday while skiing at Deer Valley Resort while on vacation with his family.

The man, 68, from Guadalajara, Mexico, was in town on a skiing vacation when he lost control about 10:30 a.m. and veered of the resort's Blue Bell Run and into some trees, Park City Police Capt. Phil Kirk said.

"The impact caused severe head trauma," Kirk said. "Ski patrol and medical emergency crews responded and tried to treat him the best they could but he died on the scene."

A helicopter had been called to transport the man to a hospital but the injuries were too serious and the man died before it was possible, he said.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death but Kirk said there did not appear to be anything suspicious.

Police were withholding the man's name until the rest of his family can be notified.

— Ethan Thomas

Illegal street race ends with crash

TAYLORSVILLE — An illegal street race ended in a crash and a downed power line here Wednesday.

About 7:30 a.m., two men waiting at a red light at the intersection of 5400 South and 700 West started making eye contact and revving their engines, said Taylorsville police detective Shannon Bennett. When the light turned green, both drivers hit their gas pedals.

Just a couple of blocks later, however, one of the cars braked just as the car behind him was about to pass, Bennett said. The rear car clipped the first car as it passed, sending it into a spin and crashing into a power pole, causing one of the lines to fall, Bennett said.