Searches for Ryan Runia accident can be confusing because the available obituary records do not describe his death as a confirmed traffic accident. The person identified in the strongest matching records is Ryan Scott Runia, a Utah husband, father and businessman who died unexpectedly on November 11, 2013, at age 31.
His original obituary said he had been on business in Salt Lake City when he died unexpectedly. Years later, Church News provided additional information about the cause, reporting that Ryan died from undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. That information is important because it distinguishes the documented cause of death from an unverified accident claim.
Latest Update on the Ryan Runia Accident Search
As of October 4, 2026, the available reliable records do not establish that Ryan Scott Runia died in a car crash or other documented accident. His 2013 obituary states that he passed away unexpectedly on November 11, 2013, while he was on business in Salt Lake City.
A later Church News biography of his mother, Tamara W. Runia, gives a more specific explanation. It says Ryan died in 2013 at age 31 because of undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, claims that connect his death to a traffic accident should not be presented as established fact without another authoritative source.
Who Was Ryan Scott Runia?
Ryan Scott Runia was born April 18, 1982, in Provo, Utah. He was the oldest of seven children born to R. Scott Runia and Tamara Wood Runia. His obituary describes him as a son, brother, husband, father and friend whose personality was remembered for warmth, humor and an ability to include people around him.
Ryan grew up in Utah and attended Timpview High School, where he played football. He also became an Eagle Scout and later served a Spanish-speaking religious mission in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. His early experiences reflected the combination of family, faith, education and community service that remained important throughout his life.
Ryan Runia Age at Death
Ryan Runia was 31 years old when he died in November 2013. He was born April 18, 1982, and died November 11, 2013.
His relatively young age helps explain why his death was described as unexpected. The later account from Church News indicates that an underlying heart condition had not been detected before his death.
What Happened to Ryan Runia?
The original obituary gives only limited details about the circumstances surrounding Ryan’s death. It says he passed away unexpectedly on November 11, 2013 and notes that he was on business in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the time. It does not describe a vehicle collision, crash scene or other accident.
The later Church News account is more specific about the medical explanation. It states that Ryan died from undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is the most detailed cause-of-death information located in the reliable sources reviewed for this article.
Ryan Runia Cause of Death
Ryan Runia’s documented cause of death was undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to Church News. The condition is a disease of the heart muscle that can sometimes exist without obvious symptoms before a serious cardiac event.
The original 2013 obituary did not provide this medical explanation. Instead, it simply described his passing as unexpected. The later family account provides the additional context needed to understand why his death occurred so suddenly.
There is no reliable evidence in the sources reviewed that an automobile accident caused Ryan’s death. For that reason, an article about the Ryan Runia accident should make clear that the accident wording comes from the search query rather than from the confirmed obituary record.
Ryan Runia Family
Parents
Ryan was the son of R. Scott Runia and Tamara Wood Runia. His mother later spoke publicly about the effect of his unexpected death on the family. Church News described Ryan as the oldest of the couple’s seven children.
Siblings
Ryan’s siblings were Dane, Carly, Tanner, Nolan, Pater and Berkley Runia. His obituary lists them among the family members who survived him.
Wife
Ryan married Cari Nicole Wright on February 7, 2004. The obituary describes their marriage as a close and loving relationship that was admired by their family and friends.
Children
Ryan and Cari had four children: Jaac Ryan, Grace Nicole, Piper Lucy and Thys Raymond. The children were young when Ryan died, with the obituary listing their ages at the time.
Ryan Runia Education
Ryan attended Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, where he played football. He later attended Utah Valley University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Digital Media.
His education supported a career that combined business, investment and private banking. His obituary describes him as having worked for the Runia Group in Private Banking and Investments at Merrill Lynch for approximately seven and a half years before his death.
Ryan Runia Career
Ryan worked in private banking and investments with the Runia Group at Merrill Lynch. According to his obituary, he had spent about seven and a half years in that field by the time of his death.
The obituary portrays him as deeply committed to providing for his family. His work had taken him to Salt Lake City on business shortly before his unexpected death.
Ryan Runia Religion and Faith
Faith was an important part of Ryan’s life according to his obituary and later family accounts. He served a Spanish-speaking mission in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and his obituary says he found happiness in sharing the gospel and the faith that shaped his life.
The later Church News account also discusses the Runia family’s experience of grief through the lens of their faith following Ryan’s death.
Ryan Runia Hobbies and Personality
Ryan’s family remembered him as someone who enjoyed spending time with his wife and children. His hobbies included flying model and paper airplanes, building rockets, skiing, boating, traveling and spending time at Lake Powell.
His obituary also portrays him as outgoing and welcoming. He was described as someone who enjoyed being around other people and who had a strong sense of humor. These personal details help explain why his death affected not only his immediate family but also a broader circle of friends and community members.
Ryan Runia Height, Net Worth and Other Personal Details
Reliable obituary and family sources reviewed for this article do not provide a verified height for Ryan Runia. They also do not provide a reliable estimate of his personal net worth. Because those figures are not established in the available records, they should not be presented as facts.
His professional work in private banking and investments is documented, but employment information alone cannot establish a person’s personal wealth. Any precise net-worth figure circulating online should therefore be treated cautiously unless supported by a credible financial source.
Ryan Runia Quick Facts
| Full Name | Ryan Scott Runia |
|---|---|
| Born | April 18, 1982 |
| Birthplace | Provo, Utah |
| Died | November 11, 2013 |
| Age at Death | 31 |
| Cause of Death | Undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to Church News |
| Wife | Cari Nicole Wright Runia |
| Children | Four |
| Parents | R. Scott Runia and Tamara Wood Runia |
| Education | Timpview High School; Utah Valley University |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Digital Media |
| Career | Private banking and investments |
| Employer | Runia Group at Merrill Lynch |
| Known Accident | No fatal traffic accident was established in the reliable sources reviewed |
Ryan Runia Funeral and Memorial Services
Following Ryan’s death, viewing and funeral services were held in Orem, Utah. The obituary listed a viewing at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home on November 15, 2013, followed by additional viewing and funeral services on November 16 at Ryan’s stake center in Orem.
The family also suggested charitable donations in Ryan’s memory rather than flowers. The listed organizations included LDS Humanitarian Aid and the Food and Care Coalition.
Why the Ryan Runia Accident Search Can Be Misleading
Online searches can combine information about different people with similar names, especially when a name is searched together with a broad term such as “accident.” Legacy’s Ryan Runia obituary search itself indicates that there have been multiple people with the surname and first name Ryan in its database.
For Ryan Scott Runia of Utah, however, the available obituary identifies an unexpected death in 2013, while the later family profile identifies undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the cause. Neither source establishes a fatal car crash.
That distinction matters because an unverified accident claim can change the meaning of an obituary. The safest account is therefore to report the confirmed information and avoid filling the gap with speculation.
Ryan Runia Legacy
Ryan’s legacy is closely connected to his family, faith and the life he built before his death. He was a husband and father of four young children, a son in a large family and a professional working in private banking and investments.
His mother later described the family’s continuing grief while discussing the death in a Church News profile. The account shows that his sudden loss remained an important part of the family’s story years afterward.
The available records also show why it is important to distinguish Ryan’s confirmed medical cause of death from the accident wording sometimes associated with searches for his name. The evidence supports a sudden death related to an undetected heart condition, not a documented fatal crash.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ryan Runia
Who was Ryan Runia?
Ryan Scott Runia was a Utah businessman, husband and father who worked in private banking and investments. He was born in Provo, Utah, in 1982 and died unexpectedly in 2013 at age 31.
Did Ryan Runia die in an accident?
The reliable sources reviewed do not establish that Ryan died in a traffic accident. His obituary says he died unexpectedly while on business in Salt Lake City, while a later Church News account identifies undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the cause.
What was Ryan Runia’s cause of death?
Church News reported that Ryan died at age 31 from undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. His original 2013 obituary described his death as unexpected but did not provide the medical cause.
How old was Ryan Runia when he died?
Ryan Runia was 31 years old when he died on November 11, 2013. He was born April 18, 1982, in Provo, Utah.
Who was Ryan Runia’s wife?
Ryan was married to Cari Nicole Wright, whom he married on February 7, 2004. The couple had four children.
How many children did Ryan Runia have?
Ryan and Cari had four children: Jaac Ryan, Grace Nicole, Piper Lucy and Thys Raymond. They were all young when their father died.
Who were Ryan Runia’s parents?
His parents were R. Scott Runia and Tamara Wood Runia. Ryan was the oldest of their seven children.
Where was Ryan Runia born?
Ryan Scott Runia was born in Provo, Utah, on April 18, 1982. He later attended Timpview High School and Utah Valley University.
What did Ryan Runia do for a living?
Ryan worked in private banking and investments with the Runia Group at Merrill Lynch. His obituary said he had worked there for approximately seven and a half years before his death.
What is known about Ryan Runia’s death?
Ryan died unexpectedly on November 11, 2013, at age 31. The later family account published by Church News says the cause was undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Wrap-Up
The search term Ryan Runia accident does not match the confirmed account of Ryan Scott Runia’s death. The strongest available records show that he died unexpectedly in Salt Lake City in November 2013 at age 31, while a later Church News profile gives undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the cause.
Ryan was remembered as a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend. His obituary also highlights his professional career, religious faith, love of outdoor activities and commitment to his young family.
Because no reliable source reviewed for this article documents a fatal accident, claims describing Ryan’s death as the result of a crash should be treated as unverified. The documented medical explanation remains the most reliable account currently available.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available obituary and family-profile records. It is intended for informational purposes and does not replace official medical, legal or investigative records. Where information was not reliably established, it has not been presented as fact.
