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OGDEN — In February 2007, Chris Williams lost most of his family to an accident involving a drunk driver. With the premiere of a film depicting the tragedy, Williams is hopeful people around the country will be able to learn from this trying time in his life.
Williams is hopeful the movie, "Just Let Go," will foster a transformation in the lives of moviegoers.
"It's blessed my life incredibly. … I just want other people to experience that same freedom that I've had," he said.
The freedom Williams spoke of Monday morning can be hard to imagine when you consider how much he lost on a winter night nearly nine years ago.
On Feb. 9, 2007, the Williams family was headed home from a basketball game when a 17-year-old driver slammed into their vehicle, traveling around 60 miles per hour.
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The man whose wife and two children were killed in a car crash over the weekend stood before his church congregation yesterday. He asked that they pray for the young man who allegedly hit the family's car Friday night."Right after the impact, I knew my wife and at least two of my three children had passed away," Williams said. "As I experienced the grief and looking at the car that had just struck us I heard, as if it was spoken over my shoulder, 'Just let go.'"
Though it wasn't easy, Williams said he has stayed committed to the path of forgiveness.
Henry Ian Cusick, the actor who portrays Williams in "Just Let Go," said while he got a good look at what the Utah father went through, "I'm never going to say that I knew what Chris went through. I had a taste, perhaps; I can empathize with it … but I don't really know."
A Night of Forgiveness premiere event was scheduled to take place Monday evening at the Cinemark Tinseltown movie theater, 3651 Wall Ave. Williams and Cusik were to be in attendance, along with musical performers and forgiveness experts. They also planned a special challenge for attendees.
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A young man who drove drunk and caused a crash that killed four people is speaking out for the first time to warn others."We have a forgiveness challenge that we're going to be issuing in conjunction with the Bishop Desmond Tutu (Peace) Foundation," Williams said earlier in the day. "This is a global effort to promote peace and forgiveness and helping people move forward in a little bit more of a structured way."
"Just Let Go," along with that "Night of Forgiveness" broadcast event, is being shown at select theaters Monday evening. The film hits nationwide audiences Oct. 9.
