OGDEN — The family of a man hit and killed while walking his dog are sharing their heartbreak.
Police say the crash was one of several caused by a suspected drunken driver Friday night.
According to a police affidavit, officers said driver Tyson Bruce Treasure blew through a red light, causing another car to hit 64-year-old James Wood.
Police said Treasure was initially at a local hospital for detox treatment before he drove off and then caused several crashes, which sent people to the hospital and resulted in Wood’s death.
“I don’t think this young man has any idea of the magnitude of trouble he’s caused,” said Jack Wood, the victim’s brother.
Wood said his brother left his house without his wallet and phone Friday to walk his dog, Willow.
“It took about an hour after he left for her to find her way home, and she came through the doggy door,” Wood said.
He said his sister-in-law knew something was wrong when their dog came home without her husband.
“She’s a real sweetheart,” Wood said. “I can’t imagine what she went through, but when she came home, she was shaking.”
Because his brother didn’t have his wallet, he said police initially didn’t know who he was when he was struck.
Wood said two crisis workers from the police department informed his wife he had died.
“The trauma of it was just causing her to shake all over,” he said. “What are we going to do? How can we live without him?”
Wood said James’ 11 grandchildren, three children, and his wife are shocked.
“His wife is disabled on disability. It’s very difficult to get in and out of the house,” he said. “He was her caregiver. He was her rock.”
Wood said his brother was a loyal family man and very handy, which some may not have seen beneath his tough exterior.
“Every time his family has had a crisis he’s been there. Every time people in the ward have needed something, he’s been there,” Wood said.
He wants to speak with the man he believes is responsible for his brother’s death.
“If you’re going to be drunk, make sure you don’t drive,” Wood said. “Don’t take somebody’s life just because you weren’t in control of yourself.”
Wood said one of his brother’s children plans to move in with their mother to act as the caregiver, though none of them live in Ogden.
The family set up a Gofundme* to help cover the cost of a funeral.
Wood said his brother was the sole provider of his family and planned to continue working.
“We know he’s on the other side, but that doesn’t help a whole lot,” he said. “When (you’ve) got to pay the bills and you got a loan out because you had to replace the roof, and you got leaks in the walls, and you know, he was the one. He’d take care of everything — Mr. Handyman.”
The driver in this case is in the Weber County jail. Police say he admitted he had been drinking Friday.
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