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Woman arrested on DUI charges after hitting, killing 8-year-old Payson boy

Posted at 7:47 PM, Mar 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-22 00:39:48-04

PAYSON, Utah -- A woman has been arrested after hitting and killing an 8-year-old Payson boy with her vehicle Sunday afternoon.

Tabitha Magoon

Tabitha Magoon

The auto-pedestrian accident occurred at about 2:35 p.m. in the area of 680 West and 1000 South. According to Payson police, 37-year-old Tabatha Magoon ran over Kaydon Sillitoe, who was outside playing on a skateboard he received for his birthday the day before.

"They (Kaydon’s family) are very distraught,” said Lt. Bill Wright, Payson police spokesman. “They have a loss of a child that had a birthday just the day before this occurred. They are feeling that loss quite poignantly.”

At the time of the accident, Wright said, Magoon stopped when she heard screaming. The 37-year-old voluntarily admitted to a blood and urine test.

The results showed several controlled substances including methamphetamine were in Magoon's system at the time of the crash, according to police. The driver is facing three charges including driving under the influence.

"There is heartache, there is pain, there is anger,” Tracy Sullivan, the boy’s grandmother, told reporters Monday. “Of course there is anger. This could have been avoided. Different choices, it could have been avoided.”

Neighbors quickly planned a vigil for Monday night. Originally planned a block from Kaydon's home, the vigil moved to his family's front yard, only feet from where the boy was killed.

"When we found out what had happened, I just wanted to do something to let them know that we care," said Catherine Jones, a neighbor who helped organize the vigil. "We feel that loss like it was our own child because it could have been our own."

Flowers, balloons and messages of love lined up on the sidewalk next to the spot where Kaydon was run over.

"He was just a light in our lives.  He was just a shining light and he brought a lot of joy -- and he's going to be missed," Sullivan said.