Household and pals gathered Wednesday in West Jordan at 9000 South and 1510 West, the place 13-year-old Eli Mitchell was killed by a drunk driver one yr in the past. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Kaizen Marsing reads an essay about his buddy along with his mother Lacey Marsing to a big group of individuals gathered on Wednesday in West Jordan at 9000 South and 1510 West the place one yr in the past 13-year-old Eli Mitchell was killed by a drunk driver. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Chandler Newman and Cooper Rodgerson, pals of Eli Mitchell’s, offered an angel bike to the Mitchell household on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Angel bikes are a monument to somebody who was hit and killed by a automotive whereas biking. Gabrielle Shiozawa
A big group of individuals collect on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 in West Jordan at 9000 South and 1510 West the place 13-year-old Eli Mitchell was killed by a drunk driver one yr in the past. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
"A drunk driver had run over one among my greatest pals and left him there to die."
That assertion comes from an essay West Jordan teen Kaizen Marsing wrote about his buddy and neighbor Eli Mitchell. Kaizen learn the essay Wednesday night time at a memorial service honoring Eli on the one-year anniversary of his demise.
At 6 p.m. on April 26, 2022, 13-year-old Eli rode his bike to Smith's in West Jordan to make use of his brand-new debit card for the primary time to purchase snacks.
Eli was heading dwelling, strolling his bike throughout the crosswalk at 1510 W. 9000 South in West Jordan, when Mason Andrew Ohms, of Saratoga Springs, who police stated had simply drank seven beers in six hours, hit Eli along with his 2007 Chevy Silverado.
Each the back and front tires went over Eli. Ohms continued driving, even after having Eli's bike caught in his truck, in keeping with police. Ohms pleaded responsible in November to vehicle murder, a second-degree felony, and failure to stay at an accident involving demise, a third-degree felony. He was later sentenced to spend at the least one yr and as much as 20 years in jail.
Kaizen Marsing reads an essay about his buddy along with his mother Lacey Marsing to a big group of individuals gathered on Wednesday in West Jordan at 9000 South and 1510 West the place one yr in the past 13-year-old Eli Mitchell was killed by a drunk driver.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
"Some of the disturbing issues about this accident, that made me really feel essentially the most anger, was that the drunk driver went into a close-by parking zone, pulled my greatest buddy's bike out from beneath his truck and fled the scene," Marsing stated in his essay Wednesday. "How can somebody be this disrespectful and careless?"
Round 250 neighborhood members and family members gathered Wednesday on the precise time and site of Eli's demise, to lift consciousness for drunk driving and to have fun Eli's life and reminiscence.
Eli's mother and father, Lisa and Jeremy Mitchell, and his sister, Emma, shared their love for Eli and their gratitude to the neighborhood for its help.
"Now we have been overwhelmed by the love and help we have now felt as we ship Eli on to the following a part of his journey," Lisa Mitchell stated.
The angel bike
As a part of the memorial, Eli's pals Cooper Rodgerson and Chandler Newman — each with buzzed heads to imitate Eli's favourite haircut — offered an "angel bike" to the Mitchell household, donated by Lake City Bicycles.
Angel bikes, Cooper defined, are a monument to somebody who was hit and killed by a automotive whereas biking. They're painted white to remind drivers to look at for cyclists.
Chandler Newman and Cooper Rodgerson, pals of Eli Mitchell’s, offered an angel bike to the Mitchell household on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Angel bikes are a monument to somebody who was hit and killed by a automotive whereas biking.
Gabrielle Shiozawa
Cooper stated greater than 630 bikes have been positioned in additional than 210 places all through the world because the begin of the Angel bike motion in 2003.
"Eli cherished his bike," Cooper stated. "He would bike all over the place. I miss Eli rather a lot, however I am additionally grateful that I acquired to be his buddy and be taught from his adventurous spirit."
"I hope that this bike is a reminder of the risks of drunk driving," Chandler added. "I miss you on a regular basis, Eli. I am so grateful that I can name you my buddy."
Drunk driving consciousness
"We'd like each grownup to comprehend the hazard they're to our communities when consuming and driving," Kaizen stated in his essay. He identified that Eli had worn a helmet and walked his bike throughout the crosswalk, two security measures he'd been instructed to observe.
"If we children are anticipated to take our security critically, why does that change while you turn into an grownup?" Kaizen requested.
A big group of individuals collect on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 in West Jordan at 9000 South and 1510 West the place 13-year-old Eli Mitchell was killed by a drunk driver one yr in the past.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
West Jordan Mayor Dick Burton inspired residents to assist hold family and friends from consuming and driving.
"You and I could make a distinction; let's try this," Burton stated. "Let's make this neighborhood a powerful one."
A part of that energy has come from the Mitchell household's work, at the side of Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, to move HB247. The modification to Utah's Alcoholic Beverage Management Act clarifies the definition of "intoxicated" and requires alcohol sellers to show in data associated to over-service of alcohol in circumstances the place it results in demise or damage.
The invoice additionally retains servers from over-serving alcohol to clients, particularly clients who're already intoxicated. HB247 was authorised by the state Legislature and signed into regulation by Gov. Spencer Cox on March 20.
Ohms' blood alcohol degree was probably at 0.22 on the time of the incident, in keeping with Salt Lake County deputy district lawyer Rebecca Buchert, which is 4 occasions Utah's authorized restrict. Ohms had been convicted of 5 earlier DUIs.
"I am so grateful for the Mitchell household," Ivory stated on Wednesday. "You've got handled tragedy with such graciousness, and out of anger and a way of injustice, and in addition out of the love and the will to make it possible for nobody else would ever really feel what your loved ones has felt and needed to undergo."
He additionally thanked the neighborhood members who despatched in calls and emails to legislators, in addition to confirmed up in "swarms" within the committee rooms.
"The hassle that you just put out has modified the regulation," Ivory stated. "You made a alternative, within the face of this, to show tragedy into triumph."
Jeremy Mitchell thanked the bystanders, West Jordan police, Sandy hearth paramedics and others who helped his household.
Of the West Jordan neighborhood, Jeremy Mitchell later added, "They have been there the entire yr. ... Anytime one thing occurs for individuals in our neighborhood, for any household, they're there, and so they remember. Generally issues occur and other people neglect, however they have not forgotten, and we're grateful."