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There have been a lot of deaths this week, and I’ve covered quite a few of them. It’s made me think about death, even though I don’t like to.
Tuesday I went to the home in South Salt Lake where four people – including two children – died violent deaths. Thursday I was at Fourth South under I-15, and saw a man who was found lying face down, dead. I went to Snowbird Ski Resort today, and saw a car turned upside down in the river, the driver still inside, dead. Authorities are still looking into what caused those last two deaths.
I kept thinking, not that long ago these people were alive. In one moment they went from breathing, thinking, moving, living – to nothing. I’ve covered fatal car wrecks, murders and such before. But for some reason this week, it affected me more after going to that house on West Temple. I talked to several people who work in businesses around the house, and they were shocked to hear about the deaths, saddened to hear children had died, and surprised to hear children even stayed at the house. The curtains never moved, the porch light was never on.
No one deserves to die. Not the man under the freeway, nor the man in the river. But especially not a mother, not a 10-year-old girl, not a one-year-old baby.
Life is so short. It's been more than a year now since my little brother passed away, but this week it came back to me like it was yesterday. Tragedies happen so quickly. Choices also play a part. This week could have been different for those victims. I wish it had been.
