Friends identify two boys and a woman who died in an accident at Lake Powell

PAGE, Ariz. (KSL.com) — Friends have identified the two 4-year-old boys who died along with a woman Friday when the pontoon they were being towed on across Lake Powell capsized and they became trapped.

At around 3:18 p.m., dispatchers learned of a boat that had overturned on Lake Powell near the mouth of Navajo Canyon.

“The 25-foot, privately owned pontoon boat was being towed by another boater when waves caused the towed boat to capsize. Several of the 11 passengers were trapped under the overturned boat,” the National Park Service said in a press release.

Emergency crews arrived to find one person on the pontoon boat and others in the water. “Some of the group are missing,” while nearby boaters helped to remove the victims from the water. Emergency crews provided medical aid at the scene, but Gabriel Hart, 4, Zeniff Cox, 4, and Missy Hayhurst Cox Bean, 72, died during the incident. Two other people were taken to a hospital.

“In this devastating incident, the Cox family lost three beloved family members: their beloved grandmother, Missy Hayhurst Cox Bean, and two precious four-year-olds, Gabriel Hart and Zeniff Cox. Our hearts ache as we cope with this sudden and heartbreaking loss,” a GoFundMe campaign to support the families said.

According to the campaign, another child, 7-year-old Audrey Cox, was flown to hospital and remained in an induced coma in intensive care on Sunday.

“The road ahead is uncertain and presents numerous emotional and financial challenges for all affected families,” the fundraiser states.

Another victim, Missy Bean’s husband Roland “Rock” Bean, is also currently in the hospital and is being treated for injuries he sustained in the accident, the GoFundMe campaign says.

The accident remains under investigation by the National Park Service and local authorities.