With a broken rib and bruised lungs - injuries he sustained during a violent collision Friday night that claimed the lives of his pregnant wife and two of his children - Chris Williams instead gingerly took his normal place behind the pulpit alongside the other leaders of Crystal Heights 2nd Ward, said Stake President James Wood.

"He tried to slip in and go to a side pew," Wood said of Williams, who showed up with his 14-year-old son, Michael, about halfway through the morning meeting. "There was quite a bit of excitement when he walked in the door because nobody expected to see him."

Williams was released from the hospital Saturday and has spent most of his time tending to son Sam, 6, who remains in critical condition at Primary Children's Medical Center with head injuries. Sam shows signs of progress, including responding to his father, Wood said. Doctors planned Sunday to begin taking Sam off medications that have kept him sedated while the extent of his head injuries could be evaluated, said Wood.

But when Sam was scheduled to undergo a battery of tests, including a CAT scan, Sunday morning, Williams took the opportunity to join and address his congregation.

He expressed gratitude and let the congregation know that their prayers had been felt by his family, Wood said. The bishop reaffirmed the conviction that his "deep and abiding faith that he will see his family again" would carry him through the ordeal, said Wood.

In addition, he expressed concern for the 17-year-old driver of the SUV that plowed into his family's car. The boy has been arrested and could face charges of vehicular homicide.

Police said they will not be releasing the name of the suspect, who turns 18 in May, because of his juvenile status.

Salt Lake City police Sgt. Cameron Platt said it's up to the juvenile court to determine whether the 17-year-old male will be tried as an adult.

Meanwhile, a state task force is trying to track down where the teenager got the alcohol found in his car, said Platt, who oversees detectives and major accident investigations.

District Attorney Lohra Miller said a decision regarding additional charges won't come any earlier than today, after police present the case to her staff.

mwestley@sltrib.com

Stake president