Boy thankful to be home
UHP trooper who saved his life is instrumental
By Toby G. Hayes
Deseret News correspondent
HOWELL, Box Elder County — Justin Esplin received a Thanksgiving wish he'll
never forget. He's home.
Story by Toby Hayes,
Deseret News
A year and a half ago, the now 11-year-old was struck by a car on I-84 while
helping his mother change a flat tire. Through the efforts of the Utah
Highway Patrol, local residents and the Utah Hope Project, Justin returned
home Wednesday to be with his family.
"It's nice to see a different ending," said Utah Highway Patrol trooper
Scott Singleton, who is credited with saving Esplin's life.
"Usually when you visit a family it's because of death. It's really nice to
see a different outcome. It makes it all worthwhile."
On April 7, 2001, a spring storm brought snow to northern Utah. Driving with
his mother and three younger brothers to Tremonton that afternoon, their car
hit a patch of ice and slid into the median, causing a flat tire. His mother
pulled to the opposite shoulder to change it.
Just as his father had taught him, Justin got out to help his mother with
the flat. But as the two were changing the tire, another vehicle hit the
same patch of ice, losing control and striking Justin.
Responding to another accident down the highway, Singleton passed the scene,
thinking the vehicles had just slid off the road. The two cars never
actually hit each other. But Singleton had the feeling he needed to go back.
"If it hadn't been for him, (Justin) wouldn't be alive," said Brian Poulsen,
Justin's father.
When Singleton arrived he found Justin lying face down in the mud,
unconscious and blue. His mother, also hurt in the accident, was struggling
to pull herself up but couldn't because of her shattered right leg.
Singleton began respiration on Justin, bringing color back to his skin by
the time the ambulance arrived.
Still, Singleton didn't think Justin would make it.
For days, Singleton called Primary Children's Medical Center to check on
Justin. Every day his condition improved. After seven weeks, Justin was
transferred to a care facility in Logan, paralyzed from the neck down.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Justin has returned to a somewhat
normal life and is attending Mount Logan Middle School.
Justin has a lot to be thankful for, but for Thanksgiving this year Justin's
one wish was to return home to be with his family. The man who saved his
life made it happen.
Shortly after the accident, the Utah Hope Project heard about Justin Esplin
and his family's situation and contacted Singleton.
Justin couldn't return to their modular home because of its inaccessibility.
They needed bigger doorways for Justin's wheelchair and better access into
and throughout the house.
"Since a week after the accident we've been trying to figure out how to get
him home," Poulsen said. "We decided to sell the house and figured it would
be easier to start from scratch."
They began construction on a home last November, and the Utah Hope Project
chipped in $6,500 to fit Justin's room with a handicap shower, bathtub,
stronger flooring and a track system that lifts Justin from his bed and
guides him to the bathtub.
Area residents contributed their time and efforts to the project. Mike Knorr
was on the ambulance crew that picked up Justin that April afternoon. Knorr,
a local plumber, installed the bathroom plumbing for Justin's room, all in
the name of helping a neighbor.
Humbly at the helm of the efforts was Singleton, who says he's "not one for
the spotlight." When it came to installing Justin's track system, Singleton
was right there, along with fellow trooper Todd Hull.
As Justin arrived home, there was Singleton, flanked by fellow troopers who
had helped Justin to return home.
"It's good to see you guys," Justin said. "Thanks for saving me."
© 2002 Deseret News Publishing Company
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