Memoriam held in honor of teens killed on Utah roads
Nov 13, 2019, 2:03 PM | Updated: Feb 1, 2024, 5:49 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Zero Fatalities and the Utah Department of Public Safety on Wednesday held a memoriam for the teens who died recently and in years past.
So far in 2019, 27 teens have died in car crashes on Utah roads. The memoriam put names and faces to those numbers.
“We’re here in remembrance of our son, Keaton Smith, who was taken from us Nov. 24, 2017, in a rollover car accident,” Kirk Smith said.
His and his wife, Rebecca’s lives were changed forever the day they learned their 17-year-old son was killed in a crash in Pleasant Grove.
Keaton and a group of friends were on a day date ahead of a high school dance. As they were driving, another car pulled out in front of them, causing the collision. Keaton was thrown from the vehicle.
He suffered a traumatic brain injury that ultimately took his life days later.
Keaton was a football star. He was one of seven children and loved by so many. He was caring, loved life, and was far too young to have it taken from him.
His family now lives by a mantra.
“We’ve incorporated – when we get in the car – ‘Click it for Keat,'” Rebecca said.
“We could probably still have our son if he had … worn his seat belt,” Kirk said. “He was two miles away from the house and just on surface roads and 35 miles per hour. You don’t think the worst can happen in those situations.”
