Young Couple, Ages 17 and 18, Die in ‘Horrific’ Car Crash While Traveling for Thanksgiving: ‘Taken Far Too Soon’

A teenage couple traveling for Thanksgiving was killed in a head-on collision on Interstate 15 when their vehicle was struck by a wrong-way driver, authorities said.

Leo Shepherd, 18, and Anneka Wilson, 17, died early Saturday, Nov. 29, after their black Nissan Rogue was hit by another car that had entered the interstate going the wrong direction, according to a press release from the Utah Department of Public Safety.

The crash occurred around 3 a.m. local time when a gray Audi allegedly got onto I-15 incorrectly and collided with the Nissan Rogue.

Officials identified the Audi’s driver as 21-year-old Jose Jimenez. He sustained minor injuries and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to authorities.

The impact caused the Nissan Rogue to become “fully engulfed in flames,” and Shepherd and Wilson were pronounced dead at the scene, the Utah Department of Public Safety said.

Fox 13 reported that Jimenez was driving with a learner’s permit at the time. He is now facing charges including automobile homicide, driving under the influence, wrong-way driving and violating the conditions of his learner’s permit.

Court documents cited by the outlet state that Jimenez said he did not feel safe driving at the time of the crash.

Utah Highway Patrol Lieutenant Brian Peterson told Fox 13 that lanes on the interstate near the scene were shut down for several hours following the collision.

Speaking about the severity of the crash, Peterson said, “I’ve been a state trooper for almost ten years now. We’ve been on several very bad scenes; this one was horrific. It was one of the worst ones that I’ve personally seen.”

According to Fox 13, Shepherd and Wilson were on their way to Idaho to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with Wilson’s aunt.

In a tribute on Facebook, Shepherd’s family member, Shantell Shepherd Hansen, wrote, “There are no words big enough for this kind of heartbreak. Two souls who brought so much light, love, and laughter into our lives were taken far too soon.”

“Leo had a heart of gold and loved fiercely. Anneka was pure warmth, beauty, and kindness. It brings me the smallest bit of comfort knowing they left this world side by side, the same way they lived,” she added.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the families. The fundraiser notes that Anneka’s and Leo’s loved ones are now facing “unimaginable grief and heartbreak,” and that losing two young people “so loving, so young, and so full of life” has created a pain “no family should ever have to experience.”