On the evening of June 26, 2023, our family was changed forever. As a recent graduate from Fremont High School, Ben had big plans. He was attending Ogden-Weber Technical College in the computer aided design program. Ben had turned 18 just three weeks prior and was starting his first full time job.

I had returned home from work and had some time to talk with Ben. We talked about his plans to save up for a new car and a new motorcycle, as he had just purchased his first motorcycle with money from his birthday on June 9. After talking with him, he wanted to go for a ride on his motorcycle. He gave us a hug and headed out the door.

About half an hour later, I heard the sound of emergency vehicles (and a lot of them) heading up the street near our house. I quickly grabbed my phone and looked at our family locator app to see that Ben had been stopped just about a quarter mile from our home. My wife drove me up to where Ben’s phone had sent its last position.

I quickly saw Ben’s motorcycle lying in a patch of grass over the curb and Ben lying in the road with paramedics working on him. Ben had just turned onto westbound Midland Drive from 1900 West in West Haven. As he got up to speed, a vehicle that was stopped on the shoulder of the road entered traffic and went across the active lane of traffic straight into the median. Ben was to the side of the vehicle when this happened. The driver struck Ben, ejecting him from his bike and sending him into oncoming traffic.

Ben was killed instantly from the impact. Even though good Samaritans and emergency personnel worked on Ben for over 45 minutes trying every life-saving procedure at their disposal, Ben was unable to be saved. His favorite quote in life was “Die with memories, not dreams,” and he lived that every day.

Ben leaves behind four younger brothers, a bonus sister, and his parents (mom, dad, and bonus mom). We all love him and miss him every day. Ben was a very cautious and alert driver. This accident was a tragic mistake that could have easily been prevented if the driver of the other vehicle would have stopped to take a second look at her surroundings before entering traffic.