In Memory
The normally lighted “A” on top of the Old Main tower at Utah State University remained dark Monday night in remembrance of the eight students and one faculty member who died in a van accident more than a month ago.
As a final act of public remembrance of those who died, friends and family members of the victims as well as students, faculty, community members and religious leaders, gathered in the Spectrum earlier that day.
“Death isn’t the end,” said Kimberly Wilcox of Salt Lake City, widow of Bradley Wilcox, who died in the accident. “I know that these boys are still alive. I know Brad is still alive.”
As part of the service, L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encouraged those listening to remember the kinds of lives that each of the victims lived and try to reflect that in themselves.
“What would they think of us today?” Perry said. “This memorial is for us. It enables us to contemplate our progress toward life eternal.”
Each of the victims was a member of USU’s Agriculture program and of the LDS Church. In recognition of that, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed several musical numbers including “Be Still My Soul,” “Homeward Bound” and “God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again.”
Combined, the nine victims spent 16 years serving LDS missions.
“They had a belief and love of God and of mankind,” Perry said. “They taught others what they believed.”
USU President Stan Albrecht also recounted a chronological account of significant events that occurred during the week after the accident.
“I cannot imagine a more difficult circumstance for the university,” he said. “I pray that our sorrow might remind us of the sorrow of others.”
The accident occurred Sept. 26 around 4:30 p.m. when a group of 10 students from the College of Agriculture and their instructor Evan Parker, 45, of Hooper, were returning to Logan on Interstate 84 in a 15-passenger university van, after an agricultural field trip.
The van’s left rear tire blew out, causing the vehicle to skid out of control and roll several times off the right side of the road.
All 11 individuals were ejected from the vehicle. Six were pronounced dead on the scene and two individuals died later that evening.
“What they’re doing now is probably more important than anything they could have done here,” said accident survivor Robert Petersen of Elwood in a video dedicated to the victims. “I hope the families can find that amount of faith that they can know their boys are being taken care of.”
The video included a song written by USU alumnus Russell Dixon to pay tribute to those involved in the accident.
Although many have suffered because of the accident, Interim Provost Noelle Cockett highlighted the small acts of kindness or “gifts of the heart” that many people have showed during this difficult time.
“Never pass an opportunity to show our love for one another,” Cockett said.
Toward the end of the program, William Strong, USU professor emeritus, recited a poem written by Utah Poet Laureate Kenneth Brewer, titled “Speaking for Others.” The final phrase of the poem, “I love you,” was repeated nine times by the audience.
“It’s amazing that the school would do something like this,” said Wayne McEntire, of West Point, father of Ryan McEntire, 22, who died in the accident.
The two survivors of the accident are slowly recovering. Petersen was released from the hospital and continues his recovery at his Elwood home.
Jared Nelson of Woodburn, Ore., is in stable condition and continues his recovery at Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital in Portland, Ore.
In addition to McEntire, Parker and Wilcox, others who died in the accident include Dusty Dean Fuhriman of Tremonton, Justin Huggins of Bear River City, Justin W. Gunnell of Wellsville, Jonathan Dennis Jorgensen of Hyrum, Curt A. Madsen of Payson and Steven D. Bair of Moses Lake, Wash.
Donations are being collected for the Agricultural Technology Family Support Fund and the Agricultural Technology Memorial Scholarship in the College of Agriculture. Those interested can visit www.usu.edu for more information.
-mmackay@cc.usu.edu
Family and friends of the victims sit on the main floor of the Spectrum Monday during the service.
USU President Stan Albrecht speaks to the congregation of Monday’s memorial service for the eight students and one instructor who died in a Sept. 26 van accident near Tremontan. Elder L. Tom Perry of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also spoke at the service.
A tractor sits outside the Spectrum in honor of the eight Agriculture students and one instructor who died.
L. Tom Perry speaks with family and friends of the victims of the Sept. 26 accident.