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FAITH, COMMUNITY SUPPORT HELPING GOODMANS DEAL WITH TRAGIC LOSS

From Deseret News archives:

A Sandy family is holding fast to faith and community support in coping with the deaths of three children and critical injuries of three other family members in a car accident.

A special prayer service was held late Monday in behalf of the 14-member Goodman singing group and family, said Rick Wooden, high counselor for the Dimple Dell Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.About 300 ward members, friends and family gathered at the church, 10945 S. 1700 East, to be updated on the progress of Steven Goodman, 48, and his daughters Andrea, 15, and Aimee, 8. Those attending shared tears and comforted each another during and after the 30-minute service.

Earlier Monday, wife and mother Claudia Goodman, along with four children not involved in the two-automobile collision, kept their composure while thanking the community for its support at an LDS Hospital press conference.

"(It's) a deep comfort to us in this hour of need for us," she said. Faith "is making all the difference in the world."

On Sunday, Steven Goodman was driving on 11400 South when he apparently missed a stop sign at 700 East. Goodman's subcompact car was struck by a pickup truck. His children David, 12, Peter, 11, and LeAnne, 10, were pronounced dead at the scene.

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Steven Goodman is in critical condition at LDS hospital, suffering from broken ribs, a punctured lung and head lacerations.

Andrea, 15, is in critical condition, suffering from lung and liver damage.

Aimee, 8, is in critical but stable condition at Primary Children's Medical Center, suffering from liver and head trauma.

Sheriff's authorities have said the Goodmans probably were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

The driver of the truck, Rodney Erickson, 37, and his four children suffered minor injuries.

"We want to express our deepest sympathy for the other car that was involved in this accident," Claudia Goodman said.

She says she was driving toward the accident scene when she recognized the family's small, red car.

"I had such a deep, warm feeling all the way (to the hospital) that this was in the Lord's hands," Claudia Goodman said.

The accident has incited a public-safety debate about the intersection, which has only stop signs on 11400 South.

In an emergency meeting late Monday, transportation officials decided to place a stoplight there within the next 30 days, said Tom Warne, director of the Utah Department of Transportation.

The stoplight had been scheduled to be in place by next May.

Meanwhile, residents have placed crosses, flowers, stuffed animals and notes at the intersection in memory of the Goodman children.

The family of singers had performed last summer at a United Nations conference in Istanbul, Turkey, and last month during the Food Summit in Rome before Pope John Paul II.

The group, which performed just last weekend, has booked other Christmas performances, Wooden said. It was not immediately known whether the concerts would be canceled.

The group's show centers around the values of family. Their "Fortress of Love" album is to be released in January, Claudia Goodman said.

"It doesn't matter so much what you do as a family," she said. "The important thing is that you do things together. There is no such thing as a perfect family. We start wherever we can and climb up from there."

The Steven Goodman Donative Account has been established at First Security Bank, 9491 S. 700 East. Contributions can be made at any branch statewide.

Funerals for the three children are scheduled for noon Saturday at the Dimple Dell wardhouse.