18th Teen Memoriam honors teens and encourages families to keep talking about road safety
SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 19, 2026) — Today, Utah families, UDOT and public safety leaders came together to remember the 30 teens killed on Utah roads in 2025 and to share an urgent reminder: a loved one’s death is preventable.
“The Teen Memoriam is an important opportunity to remember the young people whose lives were lost and to make sure their stories are not forgotten,” DHHS Deputy Commissioner of Community Health and Well-Being David Litvak said. “We hope these stories encourage parents, teens, educators and communities to have conversations about the choices we can all make to prevent crashes and keep one another safe.”
Hosted by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), today’s event coincides with National Teen Driver Safety Week, a time dedicated to preventing crashes and saving young lives.
The families of Anneka Wilson (page 11) and Branson Davis (page 3) shared their experiences of losing loved ones at the event. Their stories offered a powerful reminder of how decisions on the road can have lasting consequences and underscored the importance of making safe choices to protect everyone on Utah roads.
“Every one of these young people had a future ahead of them, and every family represented in the Teen Memoriam is carrying a loss that cannot be put into words,” UDOT Commissioner Carlos Braceras said. “By sharing their stories, these families are helping us remind young people that the decisions they make on the road matter. Whether it’s slowing down, putting away the phone, wearing a seat belt or never driving impaired, choosing safety can save a life.”
Thirty teens lost their lives on Utah roads in 2025, including 18 teen drivers. Many of those crashes involved speeding, failing to keep in the proper lane or impairment — all preventable causes. Data show that teens whose parents monitor their driving in helpful, supportive ways are half as likely to speed and 70 percent less likely to drink and drive.
“Every time we, as troopers, stop someone for speeding, distracted driving or impaired driving, we are not just enforcing a law,” Utah Highway Patrol Colonel Greg Holley said. “We are trying to intervene before a decision becomes a tragedy. We would much rather have that conversation on the side of the road than meet a family after a crash.”
This year’s Teen Memoriam booklet, titled “Treasured Memories,” features the stories of ten teens lost in 2025 and is distributed in high schools and driver education programs across Utah. The booklet serves as both a tribute and an educational tool, encouraging young drivers to reflect on the consequences of risky driving and to make safer choices.
UDOT, DPS and DHHS continue to partner through the Zero Fatalities program to provide free resources to help parents guide their teens toward safe driving habits — including driver-tracking apps, family driving agreements and classroom presentations. These free resources and information on teen driver safety are available at ZeroFatalities.com.
