A memorial published October 15 honors Jade Benson, a 19-year-old resident of Helper, Utah, who died following a vehicle accident. Benson, a mother to an 8-month-old son, passed away after an incident involving a moving vehicle during the early morning hours of October 11, 2025.
According to the report, Benson and several friends were attending a dance and had been drinking despite being underage. While the group had a sober driver, Benson was not wearing a seat belt. During the drive home, an altercation occurred between Benson and a friend, which resulted in Benson opening the car door and falling from the moving vehicle.
Friends attempted to save Benson by calling 911, applying pressure to a head wound, and performing CPR until help arrived. Although her heart was eventually restarted and she was transported to a hospital, the trauma to her brain was too severe. Her family waited for four days for a miracle before making the decision to donate her organs during an honor walk.
Benson was described as an intelligent and strong-willed individual who enjoyed basketball and had earned an opportunity to learn with NASA. She is survived by her son, Jeremiah, and her family.
Benson's father issued a plea to young drivers to always wear a seat belt and to avoid underage drinking. He emphasized that even with a sober driver, passengers are not safe from accidents inside a vehicle if they do not follow safety protocols.
