The families of a teenage couple from Utah are reeling from an unimaginable loss after the pair were killed in a violent car crash over the weekend. The incident, caused by an alleged drunk driver travelling the wrong way on a motorway, has left relatives struggling to cope with their grief.
A Journey Cut Short by Alleged Drunk Driver
Anneka Wilson, 17, and Leo Shepherd, 18, lost their lives in the early hours of Saturday, just before 2am. According to Utah Highway Patrol, their vehicle was struck by a car being driven the wrong way down Interstate 15 by 21-year-old Jose Jimenez, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. The collision was so severe it caused the couple's car to burst into flames.
The young couple, who had recently celebrated their three-year anniversary, were on their way to a farm in Idaho belonging to Wilson's aunt to spend the remainder of the Thanksgiving weekend. The trip was tragically cut short.
Jimenez, who was operating the vehicle with a learner's permit at the time, sustained minor injuries. He was subsequently arrested and faces serious charges, including two counts of automobile homicide, driving under the influence, wrong-way driving, and a violation of his learner's permit. Court documents reveal he admitted to feeling unsafe behind the wheel. He is currently being held without bail at the Salt Lake County Jail.
Families Mourn 'Epitome of Love'
In the days following the crash, family members of both victims have been sharing heartfelt tributes online and speaking to the press about their profound loss. The grief has been particularly debilitating for some.
Anneka Wilson's older sister, 32-year-old Tyanna Kayemb, told ABC4 News she was so devastated she could barely function. "I stayed in bed the first two days, and today I took a shower and told myself, you got to get up," she said. Kayemb described her sister and Leo as "the cutest country couple in the world" and "the epitome of love and family."
She remembered Anneka as a deeply spiritual and loving person who had a positive impact on everyone she met. "She was very spiritual … we used to always say, 'Oh my gosh, everything Annie prays for comes true,'" Kayemb shared. The sight of her heartbroken father, whom she described as "the strongest man alive," was especially difficult to bear.
Leo Shepherd was remembered with equal affection. An online fundraiser set up to support the families described him as "gentle, warm, and real. A hard worker. A family man." It added, "He loved deeply, lived humbly, and left a mark on every person who had the gift of knowing him."
His sister, Shantell Shepherd Hansen, wrote on Facebook that her brother "had a heart of gold and loved fiercely." She found a sliver of comfort in knowing the couple "left this world side by side, the same way they lived."
Calls for Action and Lasting Legacy
The senseless nature of the crash, attributed to a preventable drunk driving accident, has compounded the family's anguish. Anneka's brother, Hallister Wilson, told KSL that the reality of her death hasn't fully sunk in, and the fact an alleged drunk driver was responsible makes it harder.
"It’s hard for me to not think of… how do we prevent this from happening to anybody else again, because this should never happen to anybody," he stated. "There’s Uber. There’s so many ways in this world to go about drinking and making it home safely." He expressed a desire for tougher DUI laws to deter such behaviour.
He also highlighted his sister's bright future, describing her as a cowgirl who loved horses. Anneka had recently been accepted to several colleges, including Snow College and Utah Tech, and had earned scholarships. "She was on the path to success at a very young age," he said.
Lieutenant Brian Peterson of the Utah Highway Patrol, a trooper with nearly a decade of experience, called the scene "horrific" and "one of the worst ones that I've personally seen." He issued a stark, fundamental warning: "Don't drink and drive. Whatever you do, just don't get behind the wheel."
Leo's brother, RJ Shepherd, echoed the sentiment while speaking to FOX13, urging people to learn from the tragedy. "It's hard for me and my family, but the best thing we can do is forgive and hope that Leo's accident is a message to people that drink and drive. It's not worth the pain that you cause people," he said.
As the families plan memorials, they have drawn some solace from the overwhelming community support and the clear evidence of how many lives the young couple touched.
