A search for a missing 66-year-old man ended in heartbreak this week after Lewis “Lou” Balzomo was found dead inside a vehicle submerged in a canal east of Fielding. A retired firefighter, Balzomo had been missing since he failed to pick up his wife in Garland on the night of September 17.
According to ABC4 Utah, Balzomo was found deceased inside a vehicle submerged in a canal east of Fielding.
A Timeline That Started With a Missed Pickup
Balzomo was expected to pick his wife up in Garland on the night of September 17, but he never arrived.
A Silver Alert had been issued for Balzomo, listing his vehicle as a late-1990s Toyota Sienna bearing Utah license plate 1EY-WO, according to Hindustan Times. His wife told law enforcement his minivan had only a few gallons of gas left when he disappeared, raising concern that he might be stranded somewhere in the rural county.
A Career Spent Helping Others
Balzomo was a retired firefighter and trained emergency medical technician. The outlet's report notes he had a career built around emergency response before he became the subject of one himself.
News anchor Heidi Hatch of KUTV publicly amplified the initial search appeal on social media, helping draw regional attention to the effort in Box Elder County. During the multi-day search, the sheriff's office had activated a dedicated public tip line at 435-734-6530 to collect community leads. The Silver Alert was canceled once Balzomo was found on September 22.
Officials React and Offer Guidance
Cade Palmer wrote that the incident was “a deeply tragic ending,” expressing gratitude to everyone who shared the initial alert and assisted with the search and recovery, per ABC4 Utah's report. Utah officials also used the case to remind the public that there is no required waiting period to report a missing person and recommend sharing detailed information with local law enforcement as soon as possible.
Drivers stranded or out of gas on a freeway are advised to stay buckled inside their vehicles and call 911. ABC4 reported a preliminary finding that Balzomo failed to navigate a right-hand turn, drove through a field and went down a 70-foot embankment.
