Family of teen killed by distracted driver urges people to be careful

SOUTH JORDAN — While most families prepare to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and barbecues, this week is filled with sadness for two Utah families.

On July 6, 2022, at 11400 S. 2400 West, their sons were struck and dragged by what police say was a distracted driver. One of the boys, 9-year-old Brayden Long, died. The other, Anthony Sandoval, has a lifetime of surgeries ahead of him.

Utah family asks drivers to be careful after son was fatally struck

That day changed both families' lives forever. They now hope they can prevent this from happening to anyone else, so they hung banners depicting the scene of the accident, with Brayden's photo and a powerful message.

“I'm really emotional,” said Jamie Beach, Anthony's mother.

The families had been friends for years and the boys enjoyed every opportunity to get together. They loved to ride dirt bikes. Anthony said Brayden was “funny and loud,” which he misses terribly.

Family and friends remember boy killed in South Jordan collision

Clark Monk, Brayden's father, said the family can't celebrate Brayden's birthdays or holidays, so this seems like a fitting way to remember him.

“This is a way to continue to honor Brayden,” Monk said. “We’re just putting up signs to let the public know what happened to our son two years ago.”

“I woke up in the hospital,” Anthony said.

His legs are covered in scars, and those are just the ones you can see from the outside; being dragged 200 feet under an SUV has left him with what will likely be a lifetime of surgeries.

“I will be forever grateful that my son is here,” Beach said.

For Beach, losing Brayden is a deep pain. She loved him too; he was her son's best friend.

“I think about Brayden every day,” she said. “I’m heartbroken.”

The message on the banners along 114000 South is clear: don't drive distracted.

“We're still struggling,” Monk said.

They hope drivers will look at their son's face on the banners and stay focused behind the wheel.

“It only takes a split second to kill someone,” Jamie said.

The driver in that case, Shantil Woods Garn, faces a jury trial in October. Both families hope to change that and toughen penalties for distracted driving, similar to what was passed in this year's legislative session, which changed charges related to road rage.