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MILLCREEK — A Salt Lake couple is pleading with drivers to slow down after a crash took the life of their baby daughter.
Dallas and Esteban Gonzales planned to welcome their first child in July. On June 24, while taking their dog to the vet, the couple was T-boned at the intersection of 900 East and 3300 South in Salt Lake City. At the time, Dallas was about 36 weeks pregnant according to the family gofundme page.
Witnesses told police a driver sped nearly 80-90 mph through two red lights before hitting the couple's car. The couple's dog was killed instantly. Dallas and her unborn baby in the passenger's seat bore the brunt of the impact.
Esteban does not remember the crash itself but does recall regaining consciousness.
"Everything that I saw in the accident, the aftermath, it was all very traumatic, and those are images that unfortunately are stuck in my head," Esteban recalled. "I saw that Dallas was unconscious and not responding. I tried shaking her. I said 'Hey, wake up, wake up,' and she was not responding to me."
The couple was rushed to the hospital, where doctors were forced to deliver their baby. They named their baby girl Mila.
"I thought 'She's here,' and I just thought everything was going to be OK," Dallas said.
But baby Mila was severely injured. She suffered two skull fractures which caused her to have seizures. Four days after she was born, she died peacefully in her parents' arms.
"It was really tough, but I just love her so much," Dallas expressed. "She was absolutely perfect, so beautiful! A lot was taken from us that we'll never ever get back."
The couple is now focusing on the few precious days they had to be with their daughter. They hope her story will serve as a wake-up call for all drivers to be safe on the road.
"Just be as safe as you can because things can change in an instant," Esteban said.
The Unified Police Department told KSL-TV they are still investigating the crash, and no charges have been filed.
The couple donated Mila's heart, hoping her life will save another. Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe* campaign for the couple.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
