Candlelight vigil held for critically injured Kearns student


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KEARNS — A group of Kearns High School students held a vigil Sunday night for a classmate critically injured in a freak auto-pedestrian accident.

The 15-year-old, who has only been identified by friends and family as Dallas, was walking to school Tuesday morning when a Nissan Pathfinder attempting to make a left turn near 4270 W. 5415 South turned in front of an oncoming Nissan Altima.

The Pathfinder rolled a few feet after being struck, and hit Dallas who was walking nearby.

He has been in a coma since the accident.

"He's improving. He's not out of the woods. It's a brain injury, it's traumatic. It's a waiting game right now," his sister, Tabitha, said Sunday night. "He'll squeeze my hand and he knows we're there, but not much more right now."

Tabitha said Dallas' mother has not been to work, instead spending all of her time next to her son at the hospital.

"Everyone's hurting a lot," Tabitha said.

Sunday night, classmates and friends lit candles in Dallas' honor.

"He's sweet. He's really funny. He's a caring person," said Brianna Kirstine.

"I just see him around school a lot and know that he's a really happy, positive person," added Heaven Menlove.

Tabitha agreed, describing Dallas as, "The most amazing, funny, just loving teen you'll ever meet. He says the silliest things to put a smile on your face.

"I'm very hopeful. I'm not going to give up ever. We're going to fight this and he's coming home. It might not be next week, it might not be next month, but he's coming home," she said.

The 24-year-old man driving the Pathfinder and the 46-year-old woman driving the Altima suffered minor injuries.

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