From Deseret News archives:

Prayers, tears for S.L. family

Published: Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007 12:05 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
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.

Story continues below
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.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

Madeline Brown is embraced Saturday by other friends of Ben Williams, who was killed in Friday night's crash.

previousnext

Latest comments

I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...

Cougs begin bowl preparations

None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...

Max Hall issues apology

Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...

Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...

U. eyes bowl for redemption

How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...

Max Hall issues apology

90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...

This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.

Y. student vanished in China

Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...

Child prostitutes don't get help

Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...

Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...

Advertisements