Missionary from Utah killed in car accident

Whit Johnson reporting A family is mourning the loss of an LDS missionary who died Friday. Twenty-one-year-old Elder Chad Wayman from Sandy was killed in a car crash. His companion, Elder Stephen Turnbow from Draper, suffered minor injuries.

Elder Wayman had been in South Africa on his mission for about a year and a half. He was due to return home in September. Family members say he was a young man full of personality, he loved his service, and he'll be greatly missed.

Wayman's uncle, Bart Glover, said, "He'll leave an empty spot that will be impossible to fill."

Family members say Elder Chad Wayman had an energy, a unique character that made him an easy person to love.

"He was a great example to all of us who knew him. He was a pure success at anything that he tried," Glover said. He added, "He'll be sorely missed by the entire family. He had special bonds and special relationships with everyone."

Friday evening, Chad and his companion were driving near Kimberley, not far from Johannesburg, South Africa, when a man appeared in the road.

Glover explained, "Chad swerved the vehicle to miss hitting the individual who was in the road, and the car overturned."

The vehicle rolled, and Chad, who was behind the wheel, died at the scene.

"He was the kind of guy that was just on fire; he wanted to get out there and teach about Jesus Christ," Glover said. He says Chad developed his dedication to the LDS Church when he was a student at Alta High School. As he got older, he wanted nothing more than to share his beliefs with people in other parts of the world.

Glover said, "He absolutely fell in love with the people in South Africa and loved his service there."

And Glover says Chad opened his heart to everyone.

Family members say it could take up to a week before Chad's body will return to Utah, so in the meantime, funeral arrangements have been put on hold.

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