CENTERVILLE, Utah -- Twenty-one-year-old Jazmyn Jeppson had returned recently from her LDS mission, now her family is facing another farewell after a man running away from police in a stolen car crashed into her vehicle Monday afternoon.
“You just immediately feel the loss of them not being around,” said Jeff Howard, Jazmyn’s uncle. “Still kinda can't believe that it's real and that it happened.”
Jazmyn was caught in the path of a man running from police. Investigators say 27-year-old Anthony Cruz carjacked two vehicles Monday.
Cruz ended up crashing into Jazmyn’s car in the intersection near Interstate 15 and Parrish Lane in Centerville. Jazmyn died on scene.
“She would not want people to waste time in mourning too much... and to go forward in life and do what she did and that's do her very best every day to lift people around her,” Howard said.
The family says now the community is lifting them. Notes of love and support cover the Jeppson's door and messages flood jazmyn's Facebook page.
Shelby Peterson wrote, "I don't have the words you are one of the best friends that I have ever had I love you so much and I am crushed to hear the you had to go so soon.”
Maddy Bramhall wrote, "I'm so glad I got to hug you one last time before you left.”
And Nicole Roberts wrote, "I am just heart broken and upset that the world will be without you.”
Jazmyn's parents say they are grateful for all of the support.
“They've expressed gratitude and hope there's healing to all parties involved,” Howard said. “She will be missed.”
