On May 2, 2023, my son, Erik, asked to go hang out with two of
his friends. He loved to be outdoors. Whether he was riding in the mountains, four-wheeling, or camping, he was all for it. He and his friends went on a ride up the water tower road in Richfield. On the way down, they had a 14-year-old drive so he and the other friend could drink. Erik decided to hang out the sunroof of the car and they were driving too fast. As they came around the turn, the driver hit a rock and the car flipped, pinning Erik underneath and suffocating him, resulting in him losing his life.

He is truly missed by his family especially his younger brother. Every holiday and birthday are especially hard because he is not here to celebrate with us. I hope this story will help teenagers realize how important it is to be responsible when hanging out with friends and use common sense.