- Bo Knight, 18, of Santaquin, died in a rollover crash near Mosida, Utah County, on July 8.
- Knight's parents remember him as kind, loving and a talented performer.
- An online fundraiser page supports the family, and funeral plans are pending.
SANTAQUIN — Bo Knight had asked his mother if she needed help with anything before heading out to see some friends in the early afternoon of July 8. An hour later, she got the news that no mother should have to endure: Her son was killed in a rollover car accident.
The incident happened when the teen "failed to negotiate a turn" while heading north on state Route 68 near Mosida, Utah County, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. The car ran through a fence and rolled several times before coming to a stop. Despite life-saving efforts from first responders, Bo Knight died at the scene.
"He left our house at Summit Ridge in Santaquin around 12:30 p.m. and was driving out toward Goshen," Austin Knight told KSL.com. "There's a road that will take you to the other side of Utah Lake. … When you go out there, there's a pretty straight shot, but then there's a turn and then there's another turn and then there is one more farther down the road."
He met state troopers at the scene of the crash and was told, in detail, what had been determined so far in the investigation. Austin Knight said his son was wearing a seat belt, and speed did seem to be a factor. There were no other cars or people involved, but there were witnesses. He said he is grateful for the quick response of those witnesses who have been able to offer him and his family peace, knowing that their son didn't suffer.
"They said every measure was taken to revive him, and it was reported that there was no breath or pulse when they first got to him," Austin Knight said. "From the time that (Bo) probably realized he was in trouble from the standpoint of, 'Hey, I'm now moving off the other side of the road,' it was probably only about five seconds. And then from the time that it started to hit, that probably only lasted three seconds. As a parent, just to know that after that first hit or two, he was probably out and didn't suffer much pain, is comforting."
'Tender mercies'
Bo Knight's mother, Starling Knight, said that another witness from the time leading up to the accident has also brought peace during this difficult time.
"A good friend of ours, who has a sweet connection with Bo, texted me when she heard about the accident and said that she passed him going the other direction (just before the accident)," she recalled. "She said they waved to each other and he had a big smile on his face, and she said, 'Oh, there's my Bo.' It was probably just minutes after that when he crashed.
"I was so grateful to know that he saw someone who loved him right before he passed," she continued. "I think our Heavenly Father gives us these huge blessings that may seem like an everyday thing, and they're huge to us. He left this life so loved."
Austin Knight also cited a recent job loss as a blessing because it gave him the chance to spend more time with his family.
"It was just kind of an unfortunate series of events with both companies (I worked for) having to close their doors," he explained. "I can now see the tender mercies of being home during a time when this is exactly where I needed to be. Our daughter, Sydney, recently returned home from a mission, and we were all just home.
"Obviously, I'd rather be working and having my son be alive, but we can also see the hand of the Lord in that, and we do consider it a tender mercy that I've been able to be home during these events."
Remembering Bo
Both of Bo Knight's parents spoke honestly and candidly about the joy and challenges of parenting young adults, as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood. They talked about witnessing their son struggle to find his way, as many of his age often do. They spoke to the delicate balance in the push, pull and flow of life both as a parent and a child, but said they were excited for the path that their son had forged for himself and were proud of him for it.
"Bo graduated this year from Payson High School, with a 4.0, and he had a full academic scholarship awarded to him for the University of Utah," Starling Knight said. "This past summer, he put himself through a phlebotomy course in preparation for a medical assisting program through MTech (Mountainland Technical College) in Spanish Fork. He decided that he was going to defer for a year to just kind of reset and take a break and figure out his path moving forward before deciding which direction in the medical field he wanted to take."
A lot of people who've reached out have just talked about how his smile would just light up the room, and he really did have a beautiful smile and exuded so much light and happiness.
–Starling Knight
Beyond academic study, Bo Knight was a performing artist who excelled in choir, drama, clogging, dancing and cheerleading.
"He did clogging with Foothill Cloggers in Genola, and that really became a family for him," Starling Knight said. "He was on a competitive cheer team called the Hive, out of Spanish Fork, and loved it. That was a tender time that I got to spend with him. I got to travel with him and go to those competitions, and it was just a lot of special time with him."
Austin and Starling Knight said they have been overwhelmed with the support they have received, as well as all who have shared memories of their son. They said that seeing the countless lives he has touched has brought them comfort.
"A lot of people who've reached out have just talked about how his smile would just light up the room, and he really did have a beautiful smile and exuded so much light and happiness," Starling Knight said. "For people just to take a moment to even read about our son, and then want to share in that grief and help lighten it for us, is just a reminder of who Bo was. His best friend told me that she didn't know how she would have made it without him, and that he would do anything he could to make her happy and to make her smile again."
"I know there will be a lot of people talking about Bo's performances on stage, and he really was an amazing performer, but more than that, he was kind, he was loving and he was generous," Austin Knight said.
"We believe that Bo is close, and I think it's really important for him to know how much he was loved," the father continued. "As his mom and dad, we just couldn't be prouder of him for the person he was, and happy for the things that he pursued and the accomplishments that he had. We were so, so proud of him."
While there is no official date and time for funeral services as of yet, Bo's parents said he will be buried at the American Fork Cemetery with family members who have preceded him in death.
A GoFundMe* campaign has also been set up to help the family cover costs during this time.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into 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.
