Reader comments
Tropic girl rests with ancestors

Anybody can have their dumb moments, heaven knows I've had mine. that said,

this accident was not the run of the mill accident, it was very avoidable.

1. not staying in your lane, or taking up the whole street.

2. having a warning car there for protection, but placing the warning car in the front of the hard cart company instead of in the rear where it cold have done some good.

3. Putting a hand cart company on a road in the first place, and with children who don't have enough sense to evaluate the risks.

All these things are wrong and the grandfather who put himself and his family through this did a very regrettable and avoidable thing.

Very, very tragic. Especially because it was so completely unnecessary.

The driver said he couldn't see them because he was blinded by the sun.

It's hard for me to believe that someone thinks it's a good idea to keep driving when you can't see where you're going.

And you know they were in the "whole street" because:???

All of the articles state taht Mr. Seely "stepped out into the road" to try to get the driver to "slow down".

Sounds to me like there were mistakes on both sides.

I'm so tired of the comments on these forums (not specifically this one...)about how dumb the families were.

They all will regret this for the rest of their lives. I don't think they'd appreciate reading these comments here.

This seems like an appropriate time to let the family know that we are sorry for their loss and their pain instead of being know-it-all's about everything.

I agree with K who is tired of the comments. The anonymity of the internet brings out some horrible features in people. Let's try to play nice.

I am so sorry for this tragic accident and hope the family finds comfort in the memories of their precious daughter.

To he should have known better.

You know all about it because you were there??????

It is OK to drive when you are blinded?????

Don't you realize, the people who post here are brilliant, capable of taking an incomplete newspaper account of an incident, and immediately deducing exactly what happened and who is to blame? Their own perfection justifies them second-guessing anyone they can tell made a mistake. It's amazing. Man, I wish I had that ability. But until I develop it, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the two young people killed.

If everyone stopped when the sun was glaring, you would have miles of stopped traffic going to and from work. I will not make this comment a blame game, because we are all human and we all make mistakes. While watching the gymnastics this week, some people who are perfect in their routine would slip, fall, loose balance etc. They are the best that there is, yet they could not do it perfectly. This family was doing something the best they could, but they could not do it perfectly. The driver was doing his best, but he could not do it perfectly. Sadly this didn't cost these people a medal, it cost them the loss of life. I hope that all involved will find peace and comfort and that they will not punish themselves.

Hancarts are wider than people. I haven't read anywhere that the driver was zipping along despite that fact he couldn't see. I find it hard to believe that anyone who's ever driven a car hasn't experienced that MOMENTARY sun blindness. You immediately slow down and adjust your visor. Luckily we usually don't find major obstacles in the roadway at that same time. I feel sad for her parents. They weren't even there. They may have been the voice of reason to warn the others of their stupidity and maybe put a stop to this foolishness. They trusted other adults to protect their precious daughter and those adults failed miserably and now she's dead. I mean how dumb to put the warning car in FRONT. Common sense tells you the greater danger is behind you and a car stands a better chance than a handcart if a collision occurred. Of course, common sense was in short supply.

Hannah looks like she was a lovely talented girl. I'm so very sorry that she is gone.
I have personally known people from Tropic, Utah, and they are some of the finest, most realistic, people that you will ever fine anywhere in UT. The Tropic people take their LDS religion and pioneer heritage quite seriously, and theses people also work very hard for everything they have and own.

My prayers and blessing go to Hannah and her family.

YOU need to read more clearly. It wasn't two young people killed. Of course you can't figure out what happened if you have no common sense or the ability to comprehend what you read.

It is nice to finely see a beautiful picture of this sweet, special, little girl, Hannah. I kept looking for her picture in the Deseret News, obituaries, but we never saw her listed.

God bless Hannah's family. My deepest heartfelt sympathies and condolences.

My daughter plays violin too. She and Hannah were in a Suzuki class together this summer. We are so sad! Hannah was a lovely, sweet girl. What a loss.

My condolences to the family of Hannah. I don't think this is a place to argue about who was wrong or who was right. The older man, Montell, and young girl (Hannah Wagstaff) were two very fine LDS people who have lost their lives due to in an unfortunate "accident".

The anonymity of the internet also allows caring people to vent their anger and frustration over another senseless death of a child due to adults being incredibly stupid. It happens waaaay to much in this state and frankly I am so sick and tired of these types of tragic stories. I know there are many others who feel the same way I do. It would be VERY innapropriate for people to vent their anger directly to the faces of the people involved or to send them hate mail. That is cruel. These forums are NOT just for expressing sympathy. Every online obituary has a guest book attached to send condolences. Most mortuaries also offer a way to send sympathy via the internet. These forums are for people to comment on the story. If some are offended at criticism directed at those involved, then so be it. If it really bugs you then don't read them. You have no right to chastise those who are using their freedom of speech in a private way. I won't chastise you for your opinion that the adults have every right to do whatever they please, regardless of the outcome, don't criticize mine.

In this time of suffering, may God bless both of the handcart families as well as the individual who accidentally caused their deaths.

May you feel the Savior's peace and hope in the days and years to come.

I did not make the connection of Hannah to Clay and Rebecca Wagstaff until I read this story. I had the good fortune to meet Rebecca, Hannah's mother, about five years ago as I traveled through Tropic collecting stories from rural Utah as a newspaper columnist. She welcomed me into their lovely pioneer-era home, showed me some of her paintings and talked lovingly about her family. It was a fine afternoon. This is simply a lovely family and I'm so sorry for their loss. I love how simple they have made funeral arrangements for their little girl. And Tropic is a wonderful little town. I have no doubt the friends and neighbors there will ease the Wagstaffs' pain.

This whole thing is very sad and it is even worse knowing this family said they will probably do the trek again. I hope not! I hope this sends a message to the wards that we do too many of these treks. Honor the pioneers in other ways. (Like writting a play)

I have driven through Tropic, UT. on several occasions and the people there truly have the Mormon pioneer spirit with them.
What a beautiful town for Hannah Wagstaff to grow up in. Hannah's photo in this paper shows just what a lovely girl she was. I can see that she will truly be missed by all who were lucky enough to know her.

My deep condolences to the family.

So YOU are the arbiter of the Constitution? Wow--I've always wanted to meet you! ONLY the comments YOU want to see are allowed? Sorry pal, I will say whatever I feel like saying, also. The great thing about the Constitution--and this forum--is that I AM ALLOWED to rebut ANY comment I find disturbing. Freedom of speech is not for YOU only. Thanks for the irony...