Family friend remembers expectant West Jordan mother killed in crash

WEST JORDAN, Utah — Family friends are sharing a sad update on a crash in Big Cottonwood Canyon that killed a West Jordan mother. Those who know Jessica Keetch Minnesota said she was expecting the family’s third child when she died.

Minnesota’s husband and two young children must now learn to navigate life without her. The whole situation has left the family’s entire neighborhood devastated.

“It’s devastating, and not just because of the situation and how it happened, but because it’s so close to home,” said Cassidy Rosenthal, a neighbor and good friend of Jessica and Jared Minnesota. “And because she did so much good, and she was so kind, and so loving.”

The Minnesota family had just told everyone Sunday that Jessica, after two miscarriages, was expecting– and everything looked great! The next day, she died when a dump truck driver told police his brakes stopped working in Big Cottonwood Canyon. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/XLv2HjQgtJ

— Lauren Steinbrecher (@LaurenSnews) August 17, 2022

Rosenthal described Jessica as always helping and serving the people around her, whether it be at work, church, the neighborhood, friends, or family. Jessica worked as a speech pathologist, and Rosenthal said Jessica was passionate about her work, both at the U of U and Jordan Valley Hospital.

Minnesota also loved the outdoors.

She was on her way up Big Cottonwood Canyon to go hiking with her children and mother, who Rosenthal said was visiting from out-of-state, when Jessica’s car was hit by a dump truck going down the canyon.

Unified police said the dump truck driver told them the brakes went out and he was trying to use a hillside as a runaway truck ramp when he crossed the line.

West Jordan woman killed in crash with truck in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Jessica died instantly, while Rosenthal said Jessica and Jared’s 4-year-old son Cooper, 2-year-old daughter Kylie, and Jessica’s mom were hospitalized.

Tuesday evening, Rosenthal said Kylie had been released from the hospital and was doing well, while Cooper remained in the hospital for observation. Jessica’s mother, Rosenthal said, had to have surgery and also remained hospitalized.

4-year-old Cooper is still in the hospital, 2-year-old Kylie was released. Jessica's mom is also still hospitalized. The neighborhood is doing what they can to support the family. pic.twitter.com/LRWskSp1ll

— Lauren Steinbrecher (@LaurenSnews) August 17, 2022

Jessica’s family and friends received the worst news, just the very next day after feeling elated over the best news.

“They had just announced to their family that they were expecting,” Rosenthal said. “They’d had a rough year and had two miscarriages over the last few months. And this one was doing very well, very strong, and she made it to 12 weeks.”

Twenty-four hours later, the family was left processing two losses while worrying over both children and their grandmother.

“Here they were planning to be a family of five, and now he’s figuring out how to be a family of three, and to be the sole provider for those two kids,” Rosenthal said, getting choked up.

In their grief, neighbors are doing their best to prop up the Minnesota family.

Monday evening, dozens gathered to tie ribbons to trees and posts down the family’s street.

Neighborhood supports family of West Jordan mom killed in Big Cottonwood Canyon crash

Rosenthal started a GoFundMe* page to help Jared with funeral costs and medical bills.

She expressed wanting to show Jared as much love and support as they could, just like Jessica used to do for everyone else.

“It definitely is a blessing knowing that she didn’t suffer,” Rosenthal said, adding, “but that family is going to be left to suffer for a long time.”

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