ROAD TO ZERO

‘We were high school sweethearts:’ Survivor of auto-pedestrian crash that killed husband fights for safer roads

May 26, 2022, 7:04 PM | Updated: May 27, 2022, 11:28 am

SANDY, Utah – In the nine years after her husband was hit a killed by a suspected distracted driver, a Utah woman has been on a mission to educate drivers and strengthen the state’s distracted driving laws.

“I don’t want anybody to go through that tragedy again of walking down the sidewalk with their loved one and being hit by a car and lose their lives because someone picked up their phone,” said Leslee Henson Rasmussen.

Leslee and her husband, David Henson, had recently moved to St. George and were out for a morning walk when they were hit on the sidewalk in March of 2013.

David, an avid athlete, died at the hospital. Leslee sustained serious injuries to her neck, back, and head—requiring staples and 5,000 stitches.

“We were high school sweethearts,” Leslee said. “He was just a great guy. He had no enemies.”

The driver of the car that pushed another vehicle into the couple pleaded no contest to automobile homicide in 2015.

KSL Investigates: State failures to enforce texting and driving law

Since her recovery, she and her family have put up signs, billboards, visited high schools, and warned anyone who will listen about the dangers of distracted driving.

“Our family’s doing it for Dave and it’s something that we truly, truly know will save lives,” Leslee said.

She worked to get legislation passed in 2014 making it illegal to manipulate a cell phone’s keyboard while driving.

“That was huge for us and now we’re working on hands-free,” Leslee said.

She argues that cars have sufficient technology to allow people to talk on a phone without holding the device. While hands-free driving bills have stalled in the Utah Legislature over the years, Leslee said she will advocate for it again next year.

“When we get into our cars we just need to not be selfish,” Leslee said. “If it’s that urgent we can pull over.”

A bench installed at Hidden Valley Park in Sandy serves as a method for Leslee to talk to people about distracted driving. (KSL TV) A sign in St. George reminds drivers to stay off their cell phone while driving. (KSL TV)

Even a bench installed at Hidden Valley Park in Sandy serves as a method for Leslee to talk to people about distracted driving.

“He loved the outdoors—we both did,” she said. “So, any time I can come out and sit on this bench I love it.”

On her walks, Leslee talks with those sitting on the bench and tells them her husband’s story.

“Any time I can bring up that subject I think it’s helpful,” she said.

KSL-TV spoke with Leslee as Utah begins what’s known as the 100 Deadliest Days on roadways. The time period runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Even before the typical busy season on Utah’s highways, the state is already grappling with year-to-date roadway fatalities at their highest level in more than two decades.

Utah sees highest deadly crashes in more than two decades entering 100 Deadliest Days

Rasmussen said she worries that distracted driving is getting worse since the time she was hit.

“I think it’s gotten worse, definitely. Definitely,” she said. “More kids are getting cell phones at younger ages and they’re developing those bad habits of being on them all the time and having them in their hands.”

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‘We were high school sweethearts:’ Survivor of auto-pedestrian crash that killed husband fights for safer roads