We live in a small town, and when the sheriff’s number came up on my phone, I didn’t think much of it. But when they said they needed to meet me in person, my mind started racing. I had the thought to try and call Jadin, but every call went straight to voicemail. By the time I got to the park to meet them, I think deep down I already knew.

When the officers walked over to me, I didn’t even let them speak. I said, “Please don’t tell me that something happened to Jadin.” They told me he had been in a crash and that he didn’t make it. I hugged my wife and my boys and later had to make one of the hardest calls of my life to my daughter, who was serving a mission in Brazil at the time. Those are phone calls no parent should ever have to make.

We learned later that Jadin, who was living in St. George at the time, had been riding his motorcycle home from work, going too fast down a hill. A vehicle pulled out in front of him, and he hit the front of the car. Even with his helmet and protective gear, the impact was so severe that it took his life.

Jadin had a gift for making friends — he could make a friend out of anyone, anywhere he went.
He never wanted anyone to be left out and always looked out for the kids who needed a friend. I remember one day he asked me to take him and some friends to a pond. Half the kids in the car had met him either the day before or that very morning. That was just who he was — he could make people feel special, like they were his best friend.

Jadin was a good-looking, happy-go-lucky kid who loved doing anything exciting. He loved basketball, working out, boxing, shooting guns, and most of all, making others happy. Jadin was full of adventure, and we had plans to go skydiving and bungee jumping together that summer.

My plea to teens is this: listen to your parents and the people who care about you. They’ve seen more, lived more, and know what can happen. Road bikes are dangerous, not always because of the rider’s choices, but because so many drivers just don’t see them. Even with all the right gear, if you’re going too fast and something happens, it might not save you.

I’m not a big fan of road bikes at all and would caution any teenager to think twice before getting one. But if you’re going to ride, slow down, chill out, and remember that people can’t always see you.

Please — think about your family and friends before taking risks. You may not be afraid of what could happen to you, but the people who love you will be left carrying that pain for the rest of their lives. If reading this makes even one person pause before speeding or think twice about a risky decision, then telling it is worth it.