Families of teens killed on Utah's roads tell stories in new booklet

Kiefer Sandoval, 16, had just finished breakfast and was headed out the door to drive himself and his younger brother to school.

His mother, Kim, told her sons goodbye, "Have a good day," and "I love you."

Just three minutes later and less than a quarter-mile from their home, Kiefer was dead.

The date was Aug. 23, 2007. Sandoval was driving on Center Street in Lehi. Going uphill 10 to 15 mph over the speed limit and driving slightly over the center line. Seeing cars coming in the opposite direction, Sandoval turned his car so as not to be hit by the on-coming vehicles, but twice overcorrected. His car rolled down an embankment.

Sandoval was killed at the scene. His brother was able to walk out of the vehicle on his own power and call his mother to tell her they had been in an accident.

Kim Sandoval says she will never forget the sight of her son lying on the ground with two strangers who had stopped to help.

"I was just begging for him to breathe," she said softly while wiping away tears.

Sandoval's story is one of 16 in a new pamphlet unveiled Thursday. Each story tells of a Utah teenager killed in either a vehicle crash or auto-pedestrian accident.

The booklet is a product of the Utah Department of Health's Violence and Injury Prevention Program. The compilation of stories is entitled, "Zero Fatalities. Sixteen reasons why zero is the only acceptable number."

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Utah teens ages 15-19, according to the department. In 2007, there were 40 teens killed on Utah's roads.

Thursday, many tears were shed in a somber press conference announcing the completion of the pamphlet. Families of nearly every teen mentioned in the booklet were present with pictures of each loved one on display around the outside patio of the Day-Riverside Branch Library, 1575 W. 1000 North.

The hope of the parents was to convince other teens and parents to do everything they can to prevent a similar road tragedy from happening to them.

"No parent should have to go to the cemetery on their son's birthday," Sandoval said. "No one is invincible. (Teenagers) all need to slow down."

The families also hope that by sharing their stories, it will send a stronger message than just nameless, faceless statistics on a piece of paper.

Kiefer Sandoval was a great debater, creative writer and would laugh so hard at times he would fall helplessly to the floor.

"The joy Kiefer found in life was contagious," his mother said.