SHE WALKED THIS ROAD EVERY MORNING — NOW HER FAMILY RETURNS TO HONOR HER AND THE BABY SHE NEVER GOT TO BRING HOME

A Utah community gathered for a heartbreaking “Walk of Love” to remember Rebeca Hafen, a mother of eight who died after being struck by a vehicle while pregnant with her ninth child.

A quiet morning walk that had once been part of Rebeca Hafen’s daily routine has now become a place of remembrance.

Family, friends and community members gathered Sunday in Moroni, Utah, to honor the 34-year-old mother who died after being struck by a vehicle while walking near her home — and to remember the newborn son she was carrying.

They walked along the same gravel road Rebeca had traveled on her morning walks, turning a familiar route into a tribute to a mother whose family says devoted her life to her children.

A MORNING WALK THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Rebeca was walking along Dairy Lane just outside Moroni on the morning of Sept. 8 when she was struck by a vehicle shortly before 8 a.m.

According to the Utah Highway Patrol, sun glare and limited visibility were identified as the primary contributing factor in the crash.

Rebeca was approximately seven months pregnant with her ninth child.

She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors performed an emergency delivery in an attempt to save her baby.

Rebeca later died from the injuries she suffered in the crash.

Her newborn son survived for a short time in intensive care before also passing away.

HER CHILDREN GOT TO SAY GOODBYE

Rebeca and her husband, Tyson Hafen, had eight children before the birth of their ninth child — six daughters and two sons.

The children were the center of Rebeca’s life.

She was a stay-at-home mother who homeschooled them, something Tyson said allowed her to spend more time with the children she loved.

“She loved every minute,” Tyson told KSL. “She didn’t waste a moment of life.”

After their newborn son was placed on life support, Tyson and the children were able to spend time with him.

They held him, loved him and said goodbye.

Tyson described the moment as heartbreaking but also beautiful because the family had the chance to be together with the baby before losing him.

A FAMILY CHOOSES FORGIVENESS

Amid the grief, Tyson has also spoken about the driver involved in the crash.

Rather than expressing anger, he said he holds no hard feelings toward the person behind the wheel.

“My heart goes out to them,” Tyson said. “I can’t imagine what that would be like.”

He added that he hoped the driver could find peace.

Rebeca’s family has also spoken about forgiveness, offering compassion toward the person involved in a tragedy that has forever changed both families.

THE ROAD BECAME A PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE

That same stretch of road where Rebeca once walked quietly in the mornings was filled with people Sunday who came to remember her.

The “Walk of Love” was more than a memorial.

It was a reflection of the life Rebeca had built around her family — a life centered on her children, her husband and the simple moments she cherished.

For those who knew her, the road will now carry a different meaning.

It is where an ordinary morning ended in unimaginable loss.

But on Sunday, it also became a place where a community came together to remember a mother and the baby boy she was so excited to welcome.

A FAMILY FACING LIFE WITHOUT HER

Tyson is now facing the enormous task of raising their eight surviving children while mourning both his wife and newborn son.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help the family with medical expenses, recovery-related needs and the ongoing costs of caring for the children. Donations had surpassed $150,000 according to KSL’s Sept. 11 report.

For Tyson, however, the greatest loss cannot be measured in money.

He lost the woman he had been married to for 14 years.

His children lost their mother.

And a baby boy who had only just entered the world was gone before the family could bring him home.

Yet through the heartbreak, the family continues to focus on the love Rebeca gave them.

“She touched a lot of people,” Tyson said. “I have no clue how far her touch reached people, and it’s been amazing to see.”

And now, every step taken along that familiar gravel road carries her memory forward.