Prayers, tears for S.L. family

Members of Salt Lake City's LDS Crystal Heights 2nd Ward will be fasting and praying today for a family killed in a tragic accident believed to have been caused by a teenager driving drunk.

Christopher Williams, 42, remains hospitalized along with his 6-year-old son, Sam. Salt Lake City police said both were listed in serious condition.

The Friday night crash killed Williams' wife, 41-year-old Michelle, who was about six months pregnant; 11-year-old son Ben; and 9-year-old daughter Anna. The Williams' 14-year-old son, Michael, was not with the family at the time of the crash.

Christopher Williams was alert and speaking with friends and family from his hospital bed, LDS Stake President James Wood said Saturday.

"Physically, he is doing OK. He's got some broken ribs," President Wood said. "Emotionally, it's a tough time, but his faith is very strong. It's getting him through."

Williams is asking people to pray for the person who hit his car, killing half of his family, President Wood said.

Authorities said the family was driving under the I-80 overpass at 2000 East just before 10 p.m. when a Jeep Cherokee hit their Volkswagen Jetta.

"The victim tried to swerve out of the way, and it was T-boned," Salt Lake City Police Lt. Mike Tuttle said Saturday.

Police said the 17-year-old driver of the Jeep bolted and was captured several blocks away. Meanwhile, the Sugar House neighborhood in which Christopher Williams is an LDS bishop is trying to cope with the horrible tragedy.

"They were beautiful people trying to follow the Savior," said family friend Justin Bell.

Throughout the day, Bell's phone was constantly ringing with ward members offering condolences and asking what they could do. Tears streamed down his face, staining his shirt as he offered them words of counsel.

"I know we can pray for the bishop, Michael and Sam," he told one caller.

At the scene of the crash near 2000 East and Stratford Avenue, people stopped to pay their respects. Amid the shattered glass, orange accident-scene paint and cat litter sopping up oil, flowers had been placed on the ground. A card attached to one read "You will be missed."

"I don't know how you can explain it, other than you can say bad things happen to good people sometimes," President Wood said.

The crash scene

Michael Lee said he came upon the crash moments after it happened. In an interview with the Deseret Morning News on Saturday, he described seeing Christopher Williams in the driver's seat, moaning in pain.

"It was so smashed up ...," he said, the injured and dead still inside the vehicle.