Precious life suddenly lost

We grieve for 7-year-old Allison Sousa through her parents. Because Utahns know the joy of their own children, they can empathize with the depth of this family's pain.

The circumstances of the Cedar City second-grader's death are too horrible to contemplate, mostly because it involved an innocent mistake that could happen to any of us. A little girl gets her coat caught in a door. A driver takes off unaware. A mundane part of everyday life suddenly turns indescribably tragic.

Allison's family will need the love, prayers and support of their community for a long time to come. This is especially true for her aunt, who drove the car.

For that matter, many people in Cedar City require healing and support. Children, other drivers and public safety workers who witnessed this accident have been deeply shaken.

All we know for a certainty is that Allison's death reminds everyone that life is fragile and precious; that a loved one can be lost in a matter of seconds.

As all Utahns grieve for Allison and her family, they should also use this opportunity to take stock of the loved ones in their own lives. As Iron County Sheriff Mike Gower said at the accident scene, "It makes you want to go home and hug your kids."

Indeed.

And it is a reminder that adults must be ever diligent about automobile safety when children are involved. In the wake of the accident, sheriff's deputies have reminded drivers to make sure children are clear of their motor vehicles before they drive off. One Iron County deputy said Allison's death was the fifth accident in his career during which a child was run over or dragged to death by an automobile.

This tells us that other families have experienced a similar loss and know first-hand what Allison's family is experiencing. Her family will, obviously, grieve in their own way and on their own schedule. We can only hope that the outpouring of concern from the small community of Cedar City helps them along on the journey of healing.