Mother, newborn die after auto-pedestrian crash

Community supporters join in walk along Dairy Lane

MORONI— A Moroni mother of nine and her newborn son both died after she was struck by a vehicle while walking on the shoulder of a rural Sanpete County road last Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Her family has publicly forgiven the driver. A GoFundMe organized by a relative of Tyson Hafen, the father, had raised $283,157 of a $300,000 goal from about 3,400 donors as of Tuesday morning. The GoFundMe post says donations will go toward medical expenses, recovery-related needs and caring for the children.

Rebeca Hafen, 34, was walking on the shoulder near 1808 E. Dairy Lane, just north of Moroni, at about 7:55 a.m. when she was struck. the Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Zach Randall said investigators believe morning sun glare and limited visibility were the primary factors in the crash.

The driver was not suspected of impairment and called 911 within roughly 1 minute, Randall said.

Hafen was pregnant at the time. She was taken to a hospital, where doctors performed an emergency delivery. She died from her injuries the day of the crash. The newborn, a boy named Dalak, was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit.

"Today, our family received more heartbreaking news. Tyson's sweet baby passed away," the family wrote in a GoFundMe update the day after the crash. (Tyson was the baby’s father.) "The medical team did everything they could to care for him and give him a fighting chance."

Before the baby died, his father and the children were able to hold him and say goodbye. "As painful as this is, we find some comfort knowing that he is now with his mama," the family wrote.

On Sunday, family, friends and community members gathered in Moroni for a "Walk of Love" along the gravel road Hafen walked each morning. The event was organized to honor Rebeca and Dalak Haften.

Rosabel Laub, Hafen's sister, told ABC4 she was moved by the turnout.

"As I walked by and you see people gather, you can see and feel the impact she had on everyone, on so many people in her life," Laub said. "She was a doer. She made things happen. She truly lived every day like it was one of the best days of her life."

The family also directed a message to the driver.

"We hope that whoever did this can please forgive themselves and know that we do, that you can just find the strength to move past it and to not hold yourself too hard," Laub said. "We can only imagine what you're going through right now, but we want to know that we send you all love and prayers and healing for this."

Tyson Hafen echoed that in an interview with KSL.

"My heart goes out to them," he said. "I can't imagine what that would be like. I hold no hard feelings. I don't believe it's in our hands, life or death. I hope that they know that. I hold nothing against them."

Rebeca and Tyson Hafen had nine children together, six girls and three boys. The oldest is 13. The couple met in Mexico, where Rebeca is from, and had been married 14 years. Rebeca homeschooled the children and walked in the mornings before they awoke, Tyson Hafen told KSL Rebeca herself lost had her father at a young age.

"She loved every minute," her husband said. "She didn't waste a moment of life. She truly was living every moment like it was her last. She found joy in every little thing."

Of the newborn, he said, "He was on life support long enough for us to be there and say our goodbyes and go back to his mother."

Tyson Hafen was 14 hours away when he got the call that his wife had been in an accident, he told ABC4, and drove through the night to reach Utah. About an hour after the first call, he learned she had died.

"It's all such a blur. I feel so devastated. I still can't hardly believe it happened," he said.

He told ABC4 he hopes to continue homeschooling the children. "I would love to try and pick up where she left off, carry the torch. I don't really have a game plan other than give them all I have and just hope I can do a job she would be proud of."

The driver has not been publicly identified by any agency. ABC4 reported investigators were not planning to charge the driver unless they determine speed was a factor. The final charging decision rests with the Sanpete County Attorney's Office.

Public reaction to the tragedy across social media on was widespread. Related posts drew thousands of reactions, including one post with 22,100 reactions, 1,300 comments and 1,100 shares at capture, and another with 17,100 reactions.

Commenters offered prayers and condolences; many shared the GoFundMe link, which is www.gofundme.com/f/support-tyson-hafen-and-family.