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CORINNE, Box Elder County — A Utah community is in mourning after one of their own was killed in a head-on collision while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Mexico.
The victims were identified by Church officials Friday as 20-year-old Michael Austin Davis of Corinne, Utah, and 20-year-old Tyson Gene Haycock of Miles City, Montana.
Davis was a baseball and football star in Box Elder County.
Those who knew him said he changed their lives for good.
"He just lit up the room when he came in," said Davis' childhood friend, Chase Earnest. "One of the best teammates I've ever had. One of the best friends I've ever had as well."
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Two full-time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died and a third was seriously injured earlier this month in a head-on collision while the men were serving missions for the church, a spokesman said.Earnest played Little League and high school baseball with Davis.
The two went on to win region in football at Box Elder High School.
"One of the most outgoing and kind people I ever met," he said. "He always had this contagious smile, this contagious laugh."
Those who served in the mission field alongside Davis loved him.
"He touched so many lives," said Giselle Killian, who served with Davis the last three months of her mission.
Numerous messages filled social media Friday, calling Davis a humble leader, selfless and a disciple of Christ.
"Definitely hardworking, loyal," said Earnest.
One of Davis' former companions referred to Davis as his best friend and the greatest example.
"He had two weeks left, and he was going to give it his all," said Cole Saunooke. "Now, the charge is ours. He taught me how to love and how to work."
"One of the most compassionate people I have ever met," said Earnest.
Haycock, the missionary from Montana, had only been serving as a missionary for a few weeks.
A third missionary in the vehicle, identified as 19-year-old Britton Jeremie Berrett, of Roberts, Idaho, sustained serious injuries but is in stable condition and being treated at a hospital in Albuquerque.
