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SANTAQUIN — The family of a Santaquin man described an unexpected gift they received after he tragically died over the weekend in an accident that critically injured his mother.
Jonathan Rodriguez's family has been together nonstop since the accident Saturday, processing his death and trying to support his mother Sonia Rodriguez's recovery.
When asked about Jonathan Rodriguez and what he was like, laughs broke out as people like Stewart Barcenas shared stories. Barcenas is Jonathan's brother-in-law — married to the sister of Jonathan's wife, Daisy Rodriguez.
Barcenas said Jonathan Rodriguez tended to bring out the wild side in others, which could include crazy dancing or other fun shenanigans. He chuckled while saying that if Jonathan Rodriguez was asked what he was like, he'd likely present "a cool, suave, flirtatious gentleman."
Analee Rodriguez, Jonathan Rodriguez's sister, started to laugh at that thought. She described Jonathan Rodriguez as outgoing and full of happiness.
"He walks in, you see that smile, and you know it's going to be a party," she said.
Videos showed Jonathan Rodriguez's upbeat energy, from dancing in the backyard to music as he does yard work, to keeping the crowd pumped up as a DJ at venues and clubs.
Known in the local music community as "DJ Jonny Hype," his family described the 23-year-old as a true hype man to his two boys and his entire family.
Jonathan Rodriguez worked a full-time job in addition to being a DJ, and bought a home for his wife and children.
His uncle, Leonel Fimbres, said Jonathan Rodriguez was truly the DJ for them while working on projects. A video showed Fimbres in the backyard helping Jonathan Rodriguez with landscaping, clearly beat and sitting down while Jonathan Rodriguez danced to keep Fimbres' spirits up.
"Whether working on a car or working in his house, he had the music playing, keeps us going," Fimbres said.
Jonathan Rodriguez and his mother Sonia Rodriguez were doing just that on Saturday — finishing the yard for his children to play in this summer.
'Something so tragic'
A truck parked in the yard accidentally got into gear and moved, killing Jonathan Rodriguez and critically injuring Sonia Rodriguez.
Jonathan Rodriguez's brother Renzo Rodriguez is still in shock.
"It's hard to believe it. I was there," he said. "It's hard to believe that something so tragic happened to him."
Renzo Rodriguez was planning to help Jonathan Rodriguez build a sandbox for his two boys. The family had camping trips and events planned this summer. Instead, they're coping with his loss, while staying by Sonia Rodriguez's side in the hospital.
Known as the "mama bear" of the entire family who is always the one taking care of everyone else, they explained how she's the one who now needs help and support.
The family isn't sure what Sonia Rodriguez's recovery will look like.
"She currently doesn't know what happened to my brother, due to the complications that she's had," Analee Rodriguez said.
They're waiting to tell her what happened.
"It's just going to break her heart even more knowing that one of her kids is gone," Analee Rodriguez said, getting choked up as she spoke. Fimbres put his hand on her shoulder in comfort.
'Jonathan's last gift'
Right after losing Jonathan Rodriguez, on Saturday evening, his wife Daisy Rodriguez ended up in the emergency room with health issues. That's when everyone learned what Jonathan Rodriguez truly left behind.
"One of those tests came back that she was pregnant, and she didn't know, and Jonathan didn't know either," Barcenas said.
A GoFundMe* page has been started to help with Jonathan Rodriguez's funeral costs, Sonia Rodriguez's medical costs, and for Jonathan Rodriguez's future child.
As they grieve the person they loved and lost, and remember Jonathan's life, his family still has reason to smile as they look forward.
"This news, it's hard to know how to take it," Barcenas said. "But I like to say, it's Jonathan's last gift to his wife and to his kids before he left. Among all the bad news, I think this was the one good."
*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 advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
