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Men killed in mountain plane crash near Provo identified

One man survived and two others were killed when a small plane crashed above Slate Canyon near Provo in Utah County on Nov. 14.

The Utah County Sheriff's Office has identified the two men killed when a small plane crashed in the mountains east of Provo on Nov. 14.

Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said 26-year-old Evan Backers and 23-year-old Collin Niemela died on impact in rugged terrain east of Slate Canyon, near Kyhv Peak Road just after 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Cannon originally reported Backers was a Wasatch County resident living in Hideout. He has since corrected that information stating Backers lived in South Jordan.

Niemela lived in Santaquin.

A 22-year-old Springville man survived the crash and was flown by helicopter to Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital for treatment. His condition was not immediately known; however, the Associated Press reported the man was walking around when rescuers arrived at the Utah County scene.

Cannon said the plane took off from Utah County's Spanish Fork Airport.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

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