This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A woman who died Thursday after trying to help an injured scooter rider the day before was a valued educator who tried to make learning fun for her students, said a co-worker.
Ali Hostetter, a history, government, humanities and law teacher at North Star Academy in Bluffdale, was remembered by fellow teacher Erin Hemingway as one who knew how to engage her students in unorthodox ways.
"She was just so amazing and touched so many people," Hemingway said. "She did assignments teachers would never do. She would have them debate topics that were current. She was planning next year to do an inter-disciplinary study on the zombie apocalypse. She would think of ideas kids would be totally into."
The woman on the scooter, whom Hostetter tried to help, was "distracted" by something and crashed near 4500 South and 300 East about 3 p.m. Wednesday, said Murray Police spokesman Kenny Bass.
Hostetter was on the opposite side of the road and saw the injured motorist.
As Hostetter went to the woman, witnesses told police, she stepped in front of a Utah Transit Authority bus that was slowing down for a stop on 4500 South. The 27-year-old Murray resident died about 3 a.m. Thursday, said Bass.
Both women were taken to Intermountain Medical Center with injuries.
The woman driving the scooter had non-life-threatening injuries, Bass said Wednesday.
Lisa Hardy, a student counselor at North Star, said Hostetter's actions were typical of her personality.
"That is so Ali," Hardy said. "She always jumped in to help with whatever needed to be done."
Hostetter taught about 150 students in grades seven, eight and nine. She also was the student government adviser and led the debate team.
A Chicago-native, Hostetter moved to Utah for college in 2004 and had lived here ever since. She graduated in 2008 with a bachelor's degree of science in history. In November, she married Chris Hostetter, and the couple planned on starting a family, according to Hardy. This year would be her fourth year at North Star Academy.
Hemingway said when the accident occurred Wednesday, the couple were minutes away from traveling to the Salt Lake airport to depart for a vacation in Florida.
UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter said the bus driver had been placed on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.
"It appears to be a tragic accident," Carpenter said, adding that the driver will most likely return to work.
The posted speed limit in the area is about 35-40 mph, but Carpenter said the bus was slowing down for a stop that was about a half-block away.
Twitter: @natecarlisle