LOCAL NEWS

Members of Nephi family caught up in deadly crowd surge in South Korea

Oct 30, 2022, 4:36 PM | Updated: Oct 31, 2022, 10:18 am

NEPHI, Utah — A family from Nephi is holding onto each other more closely after their children witnessed a disaster overseas.

Rein Warner, 24, and Regan Warner, 26, were among the thousands of people gathered for a Halloween celebration in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday. A crowd surge at the event left more than 150 people dead.

World leaders grieve deadly Halloween crowd surge in Seoul

Regan is a teacher in South Korea. She traded the quiet roads of her hometown for the narrow, high-traffic streets of Daegu, which is a few hours away from Seoul.

“She fell in love with the culture,” said Jalena Warner, Rein and Regan’s mother. “She loves K-pop.”

Regan’s brother, Rein, was in town to visit his sister. They went out in costume to celebrate Halloween with thousands of other people, many of them their age.

“It’s a street celebration,” Warner said. “They went on Friday night. She had been the last three years. There’s restaurants, dance clubs, music.”

The Halloween event turned into a real-life horror when the crowd swelled and people were crushed.

Thousands of miles away, Warner said she wasn’t aware of what was happening until her mother called.

“I could hear the panic in her voice, and she said, ‘You need to call your kids. It’s all over the news,'” Warner said.

She called her son and daughter and anxiously waited for them to pick up.

“Finally, Regan answered her phone, and before I could say anything, she said, ‘We’re all OK,'” Warner said.

What they witnessed haunts them.

“She said, ‘You could not move,’ and she felt like if they had been any further in, they would’ve been separated,” Warner said.

Packed in shoulder to shoulder, Rein and Regan were able to find their way out of the crowd.

“Just seeing the people doing CPR on others, and injured and even the dead lying, I think it’s something they won’t soon forget,” Warner said.

Her children made it back to their Airbnb and then headed back to Daegu.

Warner said they’re thinking of the families who will never hear back from their loved ones.

“They were all just kids there to enjoy Halloween and celebrate,” she said.

Warner said her children are safe and together. Her son, Rein, comes home in a week. She said that will be a sweet reunion, but they’re thinking of the many families who won’t be reunited with their own children after this deadly event.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

5 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

5 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

7 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

8 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

9 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

9 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Members of Nephi family caught up in deadly crowd surge in South Korea