PAYSON, Utah - A 14-year-old student was killed after being hit by two cars Monday morning.
According to Payson Police, Adam Renik was hit and killed while crossing the street on the way to school near 600 West Utah Avenue just before 7 a.m.
A family friend said he’d just celebrated his 14th birthday at a family gathering the night before.
A memorial now sits along Utah Avenue, as the community processes what happened instead.
Payson Police Lt. Bill Wright said two cars driving in opposite directions hit Adam as he walked across the road.
“One was going west, the other was going east. I believe the car that hit him first was going west,” Wright said.
Adam’s former Boy Scout leader Morgan Trivett said he had to deliver the news to one of Adam’s best friends.
“He just stood there, and stared at me for 15, 20 seconds,” Trivett said, crying as he recounted it.
Other friends and fellow classmates came out to the memorial Monday night to remember, and pay tribute.
Trivett said Adam had been working toward becoming an Eagle Scout, and loved giving testimony in church. In fact, Trivett said, Adam had just spoken in church on Sunday.
One of Adam’s friends said the teen loved to play the cello.
“He was such a good kid,” Trivett said, letting out a whimper.
The accident has some area residents angry, because they say Utah Avenue is unsafe on that stretch of road.
“My husband and I have gone out after cars before, and been like, ‘Slow down!’” explained Jordan Tanner, who lives just down from where Adam was hit.
She said cars tend to speed up and down the road. There’s no posted speed limit signs, aside from one school zone sign at one end of the stretch.
The road is busy with cars, she said, and kids walking to the nearby the elementary and junior high schools.
“There’s kids constantly crossing this road,” Tanner said.
Wright said they don’t think either car in this case was speeding, but Tanner hopes Adam’s death will spark change. She suggested either four-way stops or speed bumps.
Police are still investigating all the details surrounding the accident.
Meanwhile, the family and community are left with a life gone too soon, and a young man who won’t be forgotten.
Adam’s father told FOX 13 News the family is still processing what happened, and they are not ready to make a comment.
However they are getting a lot of support from church members, family and friends as they grieve.
