PROVO -- The BYU athletics department has learned this morning of the unexpected and tragic death of track athlete Chelsi Petersen. A freshman from St. George, Utah, Petersen was killed early Friday morning in an automobile accident in Provo Canyon.
"Words cannot begin to express our feelings," BYU head women's track coach Craig Poole said. "It's devastating. Chelsi was one of the sweetest young ladies we have ever had on our team. She had a tremendous desire to be successful. She wanted to be here at BYU, competing, more than anything else in the world. It's just really too difficult to comprehend at the moment."
According to the Utah Highway Patrol, Petersen was a passenger in a vehicle that was attempting a left-hand turn on to Squaw Peak Road when it turned in to the path of an oncoming vehicle. According to reports, Petersen died at the scene of the accident. Former BYU sprinter Paul Smith, who was preparing to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials this month in Eugene, Ore., was driving the vehicle. He was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in serious condition.
Petersen recently finished seventh in the heptathlon at the Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track & FIeld Championships. She totaled a career-best 4,883 points over the seven different events.
"Chelsi was a bright, up-and-coming athlete," Poole said. "More importantly, however, she was a tremendous person."
A public viewing will be held on Friday, June 13 at the Spillsbury Mortuary in St. George from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. (MT). Her funeral will be held at the her Stake Center, located at 881 S. River Road in St. George on Saturday, June 14 at 1 p.m. (MT).
