I wanted to post a memorium for my old coworker and friend Don Ostler and his little girl Gwyndalyn. I was shocked to hear of this terrible tragedy. I feel bad that I was unaware of this happening and have such a pain in my heart for Don and his daughter. We should be more aware of life events and news that occur because it could be someone we know and care about that is effected. I was visiting Sam's club where I use to work and one of my old co workers asked if I heard about Don from optical dept being killed. I was like WHAT!?!?
Don always greeted you with a smile and I never saw him down. The last time I saw him was at our wedding, Jon remembers that he was just an all around nice guy. One article I read stated that Don walked his daughter to school everyday and on their way home they were joined by many other children that enjoyed walking with the two. This brought a smile to my face because that is the kind of person Don was, so pleasent to be around.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Ostler family as I am sure they are going through a difficult healing process.
Don Ostler April 1978- May 2007
Gwyndalyn Ostler June 2001-May 2007
A father and his young daughter walking together across 1300 East in a school crosswalk were hit and killed by a motorist Monday afternoon.
Just before 12:30 p.m., the two pedestrians had almost made it across four lanes of 1300 East near 5300 South when they were struck and thrown several feet.
The right side of the windshield of the car that struck them was smashed. Don Ostler, 29, and his 5-year-old daughter, Gwyndalyn, were pronounced dead at the scene.
"It's horrible," Murray police detective Kenny Bass said. "I don't ever want to hear anything like this."
As accident crews questioned witnesses and took measurements for their investigation, a pair of small shoes lay near the crosswalk with an orange evidence cone on top of them.
An 86-year-old man was the driver of the vehicle who struck the two people. He was being questioned by detectives. As of Monday afternoon, his name had not been released.
Police investigators planned to send their accident report to the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office to determine if any charges should be filed against the driver.
Twin Peaks Elementary School is near where the accident occurred. There is a crosswalk, and road signs notify drivers that a crosswalk used by schoolchildren is nearby. The accident happened at a time when students are not usually walking to or from school, Bass said, so the yellow flashing lights were not on, and no crossing guard was on duty.
Initial reports indicate speed does not seem to be a factor in the accident. The speed limit on that stretch of road is 35 mph. The road between 5600 South and the Van Winkle Expressway, which was shut down while the accident was investigated, is long and straight and apparently does not have any obstructions to block a driver's view.
posted by: Ashley
