‘She was the sweetheart of the family’: Kaysville family remembers Macie Hill
Jul 5, 2022, 7:26 PM | Updated: Jul 26, 2022, 4:44 pm
KAYSVILLE, Utah — An 8-year-old girl is remembered in Kaysville as the “light, sparkle and sunshine” of her family and the community.
Macie Hill died after she was run over by a trailer being pulled by a truck in Kaysville during the 4th of July Parade. She was part of the Patriot Cheer All-Stars team that was performing before spectators.
“We are just devastated. She was having fun and doing the things she loved the most, and it took her life,” her uncle Paul Bundy told KSL TV. “She was the sweetheart of the family. She was loved by everyone.”
Macie was the youngest of three children, according to Bishop Ryan Dopp, the family spokesperson, and a very close family friend. He said Macie especially loved being a part of the cheer team.
“Her dad told me she died doing what she loved, which was being with her teammates and cheering,” Dopp said.
The “sunshine…sparkle.. and light” of the Hill family. Remembering 8yr old Macie Hill who tragically died in the Kaysville Parade yesterday. @KSL5TV at 6 pic.twitter.com/F1qa7E60nR
— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) July 5, 2022
Dopp said right now, her parents are still trying to deal with what happened.
“They’re devastated. They’re still in shock. They’re still processing what has happened,” he continued.
Dopp said their hearts and love go out to the witnesses and the first responders who were there in seconds and tried to save their daughter’s life.
“(Her dad said) I feel so sad for the people who were there who had witnessed this. I feel so sad for the person who was driving that car. And it speaks to the quality of people that the Hill family is,” Dopp expressed.
Shawna Dennis, a mother of four, witnessed it all happen with her boyfriend and kids. She saw Macie on the ground and the back trailer tires that ran her over.
She said she is so traumatized by the event that she stayed home from work Tuesday to try and deal with it.
“I was just in total shock. I was shaking. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t function,” Dennis told KSL.
She doesn’t know if Macie fell off the trailer or fell while walking next to the trailer. But Dennis said Macie possibly hit her head because she appeared already unconscious when she was run over.
“It’s heartbreaking. I can’t imagine what that family is feeling. That was their baby girl,” Dennis said.
The Hill family said their faith in God is helping them get through this.
“There’s hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that families are eternal, and families can be together forever and that we will see Macie again,” Dopp said.
Kaysville police told KSL they are still investigating what exactly happened. They say no charges or citations have been issued at this point.
On Tuesday night, dozens came together at the Pioneer Cheer Gym in Kaysville to help each other and the family come to terms with the loss.
“We all loved Macie,” a man said at the candlelight vigil.
“We will miss her beautiful voice and her beautiful laughter,” Dopp said.
When words failed, raw emotions said the rest.
“We are thankful, though, for whatever time we had to spend with her, to know her, to have her in our lives,” Dopp said in a prayer.
Even if they weren’t the one saying it, everyone held a prayer in their heart for a precious little girl.
“We are reminded that the sorrow that we feel is but a shadow of the love that we felt and feel for her,” Dopp said.
If you wish to donate to the family, you can visit the *GoFundMe set up by the Hill’s neighbor.
*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
