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KAYSVILLE — The author of the popular "Bridgerton" book series has confirmed that two people killed in a crash on I-15 near Kaysville two weeks ago were her father and sister.
"I have lost my father and my sister. Because a catering company did not secure their load and canvas bags spilled onto the highway. Because a pickup driver thought nothing of driving while his blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit," Julia Quinn posted on Facebook. "I have lost my father, and I don't have my sister with whom to grieve."
On June 29, a catering truck lost its load on I-15 near Burton Lane. At least two other vehicles slowed or came to a stop to avoid the debris on the highway, according to police.
But Myron Millsap Barlow, 38, of Bluffdale, who was driving a Ford F-250, and whom prosecutors say had been drinking and driving since the night before starting in Oregon, slammed into the back of a Toyota Prius.
Stephen Lewis Cotler, 77, of Healdsbrug, Calif., and Ariana Elise Cotler, 37, of North Salt Lake, were killed, according to the UHP. Ariana Colter's service dog was also killed in the crash, the family said.
Barlow was given an Intoxilyer test, which registered his blood alcohol at 0.146%, nearly three times the legal limit, according to court documents. He was charged in 2nd District Court with two counts of automobile homicide, and two counts of DUI with priors, both third-degree felonies; DUI, a class A misdemeanor; and driving with an open container in his car, a class C misdemeanor.
His next court hearing is scheduled for July 19.
Quinn said she had just finished writing a graphic novel with her sister, also known as Violet Charles who was a cartoonist, and the book was to be dedicated to their father.
"It will still be dedicated to our father. It won't be a surprise anymore, but I'd like to think he suspected we'd do it. He knew us so well. He was our dad," she posted.
Stephen Colter was also an author. His children posted a message on his Facebook page in remembrance, talking about how he attended Harvard Business School but his true passion was writing.
"He also took particular delight in being 'the most embarrassing dad ever' and may have clinched this award in the late 70s with an appearance on the Gong Show. He was gonged," the children wrote in their post.
Quinn also lovingly remembered when she stopped being embarrassed by her father.
"It was his 25th reunion. I was a sophomore, so I stayed in Cambridge to attend the festivities with him. The entire class of '65 had gone to a club in Boston for dancing, and Janet Jackson came on the speakers. My father started dancing very badly (typical) but with great enthusiasm (also typical). I saw a few teenagers pointing and snickering, and I thought, 'Yeah, you WISH your dad danced like that.' After that, I felt nothing but pride in his geekiness. He was willing to try almost anything, and he never let the fear of embarrassment rule his actions. As a friend said after his sudden death, 'We should all be a little more Steve,'" the Facebook post states.
