Kevin and Barbara Leitch would have celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary today.
The Bluffdale couple would have reflected on their life together: Their three children, the church community and youth program they enjoyed participating in, family outings and time at home sharing activities.
Barbara Leitch will instead spend this year's anniversary as she has since her husband was killed in an accident May 30, 2008 -- recalling the devoted husband and father that lives on in her family's memories.
"We've moved forward. We know that Kevin is in heaven and we look forward to seeing him again," said Barbara Leitch, saying that her faith has guided her in the difficult months following her husband's death.
As the Leitch family continues to heal, a case against the driver allegedly responsible for killing Kevin Leitch is moving forward in 3rd District Court.
Shayne Frix, 20, of Bluffdale was charged Tuesday with negligent homicide for slamming into Leitch's vehicle and killing him after she ran a stop sign while apparently speeding on her way to school.
Frix drove a Ford F-250 pickup truck northbound through a stop sign at 4000 West and 13800 South in Riverton, according to charging documents filed Tuesday.
She hit a Subaru sedan driven by the 46-year-old Leitch with such force that the truck's bumper plowed through the driver compartment of Leitch's car and struck the man in the head, charges state.
Leitch, who was westbound on 13800 South when he was hit, was transported to a hospital where he died of his injuries.
Frix told police after the accident that she did not stop for the stop sign because "she was in a hurry to get to school," charges state. She said she didn't see Leitch until she hit him. Investigators believe Frix was driving between 42 and 51 mph when she hit Leitch, nearly twice the speed limit of 25 mph posted in the area, charges state.
The impact sent the Leitch's car 200 feet through a fence and into a backyard, Jay Fearnley of the Unified Fire Authority said at the time of the accident.
Frix is charged with negligent homicide, a class A misdemeanor; failure to obey a traffic control device, a class C misdemeanor; speed too fast for conditions, a class C misdemeanor; and failure to yield, a class C misdemeanor.
An initial court date for Frix had not been set as of late Tuesday, although Judge William Barrett issued a warrant for her arrest, court records show.
Barbara Leitch said the accident happened just a block from the family's home in Bluffdale. She ran to the scene where she said she prayed that her family would be held together no matter what Kevin Leitch's fate would be.
Kevin Leitch worked as a software developer in Orem before he died. He participated in a robotics club and was involved with activities for his children, who are now 15, 13 and 10 years old.
Barbara Leitch said she spoke to Frix following her husband's death and has forgiven the woman. She said she supports the charges prosecutors have brought forward, but doesn't want to see Frix serve time for the accident.
"We know she did not intend to take him," Barbara Leitch said.
"I don't want to see her go to prison because I don't think that will do anything good. I know she has to live with it and that's not fun. That's hard."
