Zachary Jacob Crandall passed away on August 19, 2026, following a hiking accident on Devil’s Castle in Alta, Utah, according to an obituary published August 21.
Crandall, who was 16 years old, was described as an adventurous individual and an extreme athlete. He was born on August 30, 2009, in Abington, Pennsylvania, before his family moved to Sandy, Utah.
Crandall was a student at Brighton High School and was set to graduate this spring. He was an honors student with a 3.9 cumulative unweighted GPA and had previously received the Noble Knight Award at Albion Middle School.
He was deeply involved in freestyle trampoline, competing at the Nationals GTG games in Michigan in 2023, where he earned third place. He also worked as a part-time coach at KTR and was an active member of the Brighton High School men's volleyball team, serving as co-captain of the sophomore team during his second year.
Funeral services for Crandall were scheduled for Monday, August 24, at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery in Cottonwood Heights. The services include a viewing from 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., a memorial service from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and a gathering with desserts from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
A Celebration of Life was scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Momentum Climbing Gym in Midvale.
Crandall is survived by his parents, Sandra and Josh, his brother Dylan, and his cats, Ginger and Pepper. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Zach Crandall Memorial Fund to establish a future scholarship or memorial opportunity.
