Hooper sewer director drowned while working on a ‘routine service call’

The sewer director for the city of Hooper drowned Saturday after he fell into a pipe while working on a sewer repair.

Dennis Steele, 62, was on a "routine service call" about 3:45 p.m. Saturday near 4425 S. 6400 West, when he fell headfirst into a pipe that contained groundwater, said Sgt. Cortney Ryan of the Weber County Sheriff's Office.

A coworker was with Steele but could not rescue him from the "valve pit," which is a shallow pipe about the width of a manhole, Ryan said. Steele died at the scene.

"We are a tight-knit community and are deeply saddened by the passing of Dennis," said Hooper Mayor Korry Green in a prepared statement. “We wish to extend the deepest sympathy to Dennis’ family…