LINDON, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A Utah County family is grieving the loss of 20-year-old Amanda Clifford. She died on I-15 trying to avoid an accident. The Utah Highway Patrol says the driver at fault never stopped.
Amanda was a student at Utah Valley University. She was getting ready to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, timing her mission just right so she would return at the same time as her high school sweetheart. He was supposed to leave on his mission Wednesday before getting the devastating news.
“I thought about just staying home,” a tearful Ben Parry said, “but I know that Amanda would want me to go.” He now holds the ring he gave her, an LDS “CTR” ring that stands for: 'Choose the Right.'
“She always wore it on her ring finger. She said it didn’t’ fit anywhere else,” recalled Parry.
The couple talked about the possibility of marriage when they both came home from their mission, something, Ben said, was on Amanda's mind just before the crash. “The night before I promised that when I got back it would work out,” sobbed Parry.
The UHP said a driver cut Amanda off, she swerved, spun out of control and collided with a semi. It is a sad irony for Amanda's grandfather, an emergency responder who has helped out in other family's tragedies. “You never think it's going to happen to one of your own,” said Vic Dauvono.
Although Amanda's family now grieves it is also comforted. Because of her decision to be an organ donor six families are receiving a second chance. It hits close to Dauvono’s heart. One of those organs will be given to the two-year-old of a family friend.
They notified us today,” said an emotional Dauvono, “Amanda's healthy liver is a match and they are going to be doing surgery tonight.”
Dauvono says his family does not harbor any hatred toward the driver who cut his granddaughter off but it is asking that person to come forward. “Whoever it is I know you don’t want to carry this type of weight. If you know that you did something that was negligible, the greatest thing is, let’s get it cleared, seek forgiveness and let’s go on. That will help our family too.”
If you were near 800 North in Orem on I-15 around 8 O'clock Tuesday morning and saw the crash the UHP would like to hear from you.
