One year ago today - a South Jordan family got the devastating news.
Their
19-year-old son, a student at
Weber State
University, had been
innocently killed in a horrific
accident during a police chase in Ogden.
But on this one
year anniversary,
Tim and Susan Strebel didn’t spend the day alone inside their home, they
spent
it with graduates at Weber State where they received an honorary degree
on
behalf of their son Blake who was just one semester away from getting a
bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
“We are trying
to make today a day
of celebration the celebration of hard work,” said Susan Strebel as she
held her
son’s degree tight. “We tried to think about him and maybe he was her
with us.”
“I’m very proud
that Blake was
working towards his education,” said Blake’s Father Tim. “I felt very
very
honored to be there representing Blake and receiving his diploma.”
Blake and his
roommate 18 year old
Derek Jasper where killed when they got hit by a car being chased by
police at
the intersection of 28th
Street and Washington Blvd. during the late
hours of
April 22, 2009.
Ironically Blake
was just happened
to be majoring in criminal justice.
But the
Strebel’s have no bad
feelings towards the driver of the car.
“We still have great concern for the
young man who caused this accident and we wish him no ill [feelings],”
said
Susan. After he graduated Blake
had dreams
of becoming a U.S. Marshall.