Rich

Freshman killed in car rollover

by Brad Jackman Carlie Morris BRI02007@BYUI.EDU News Editor

Whitney Rich, an incoming freshman from Coppell, Texas, was killed in a car rollover near Moab, Utah on the morning of Aug. 23.

Lt. Todd Peterson of the Utah Highway Patrol said Whitney’s brother, Justin Rich, 21, fell asleep while heading north on U.S. Highway 191. The vehicle went off to the left, and when Justin tried to get it back on the road it rolled.

Whitney was in the passenger seat. She received major head injuries and died at the scene, Peterson said.

Justin and the other passenger, Emily Bobo, were transported to the hospital with minor injuries and released. Justin was a former photography major at BYU-Idaho and last attended in Winter Semester of 2003.

Sarah Nitta, a family friend for six years, said Whitney was riding with her brother and Bobo to Brigham Young University and then Dixon Rich, Whitney’s father, was going to fly from Texas and drive Whitney the rest of the way to BYU-I.

Nitta said Whitney planned to live in the dorms on campus and planned to start her schooling in general studies at first and eventually go on to fashion merchandising.

“I always admired her for her strong spirit,” Nitta said. “Whitney had to overcome some trials in her life, but she always had a positive attitude.”

Nitta said Whitney was funny, witty and smart. She had a strong testimony and was always trying to reach out to those who were not members and be a good example to them.

Whitney was looking forward to coming to BYU-I because she did not grow up with many Latter-day Saints her age and was looking forward to being surrounded by the Spirit, Nitta said.