SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – November 16, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) ─ A 15-year-old girl who was severely burned in a UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) accident in July was taken off life support Sunday.
In a statement issued on the Blessings For Baylee GoFundMe page, Baylee Brooke Hoaldridge was taken off life support after a four-month battle to save her life.
“Today, on November 15, 2015, it was made clear that this beautiful girl’s plan is different than what we would have ever hoped for. This afternoon, the beyond difficult decision was made to remove life support. Tonight, our beautiful, vibrant, hilarious, energetic, funny, loving, caring, passionate, and full-of-life girl is in the process of returning to the loving arms of her Heavenly Father. Her battle on earth is finished. She can now fly with the angels, free from worry and free from pain.”
Baylee Hoaldridge was severely burned on July 4, 2015 when the UTV she was riding in with her father, grandfather and 5-year-old cousin tipped over and caught fire, trapping her and her father. Dave Smith, Baylee’s grandfather, was able to free himself and pull the 5-year-old cousin to safety and pull both Baylee and her father from the flames.
Both Smith, and Baylee’s father, B.J. Hoaldridge, suffered third degree burns on their arms. Baylee suffered third-degree burns over 65 percent of her body. She was taken by medical helicopter to the University of Utah Hospital Burn Unit.
A “Be Brave Baylee” Facebook page, set up to help keep others updated on her progress, has many friends, family and even complete strangers expressing their feelings after hearing of Baylee’s passing.
Baylee is the only daughter of B.J. and Nicole Hoaldridge and has three brothers. She was a sophomore at Timpview High School and was crowned Homecoming princess by classmates back in September. Students at Timpview High on Monday dressed up in their best in honor of Baylee.
