6-Year-Old Killed In Golf Mishap Remembered By Family

OREM, Utah — A 6-year-old girl died Monday after family members and investigators said she was struck by an errant drive off the tee at a golf course.

The girl had been sitting in a golf cart on a cart path after 10:00 a.m. at The Links at Sleepy Ridge, 730 S. Sleepy Ridge Dr., when her dad hit his drive sharply to the left, striking her in the back of the head where the skull meets the neck, according to Orem Police Lt. Trent Colledge.

Colledge said emergency teams scrambled her to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and then subsequently flew her to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she later died of her injuries.

“It’s the most somber 48 hours I’ve ever experienced,” said Sleepy Ridge golf pro and general manager Steve Marett. “It’s been devastating to say the least.”

The child, identified by her family as Aria Hill, was being remembered Tuesday for her happy disposition, mischievous smile and big heart.

Uncle David Smith said even at her young age, she was looking out for other people.

“It’s unimaginable what they have to go through,” he said of girl’s parents.

Smith said Aria cherished the golf outings with her dad.

“She was his golfing buddy—she loved doing it and she really had a great time,” Smith said. “It’s something that was one of their things they would do together and she would always be the one in the cart that was really important to them—something they did all the time.”

As the family grieved, neighbors tied pink ribbons to trees and posts in the neighborhood to show support.

They had done something similar, Smith said, when the mother had to endure nearly 3 decades earlier.

“Aria’s mother is a liver transplant survivor and when she had that procedure 29 years ago, the community really came together and they put the same ribbons up when she came home,” Smith said.

Smith said the family had set up a GoFundMe account to help with memorial expenses.

In respect to something so tragic, he encouraged other families to enjoy the time they have together.

“It’s something that you hear but it becomes all too real—that you really want to make the most of every day,” Smith said. “You never know how many days you’re going to get—especially with the ones you love the most.”