On July 8th, 2025, tragedy struck the Knight family and the entire community when Bo Knight, just 18 years old, lost his life in a single-car accident. While navigating a curve, his car rolled, and Bo died at the scene. He was the only person involved.
The suddenness and finality of his passing have left a profound sense of grief among all who knew and loved him. Bo was a force of light, energy, and creativity—a young man whose spirit radiated joy and authenticity. He had a way of making people feel seen and valued, no matter who they were.
To be around Bo was to feel warmth, laughter, and comfort. Whether he was dancing with exuberance, singing his heart out, or cheering with all he had, Bo lived fully and unapologetically.
His list of passions was long and inspiring. He was involved in competitive clogging, dance company, theater, choir, and competitive cheer. Bo didn’t just participate—he excelled.
His stage presence was magnetic, and his natural charisma left a lasting impression on every audience. He had an innate ability to express himself through movement and music, and he shared that gift with generous joy.
But Bo wasn’t just an artist. He was a young man with remarkable focus and drive. He earned his phlebotomy certification and was preparing to enter medical assisting school.
Bo had recently been awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University of Utah, a testament to both his academic ability and ambition. Yet, in true Bo fashion, he chose to take a year to work, reflect, and grow before diving into college.
He had been working at Jimmy John’s in Payson, saving money and carefully carving out his next chapter. Now, that chapter has been heartbreakingly cut short, and his family—mother Starling, father Austin, older sister Sydney, and younger brother Drew—is left to carry the weight of unimaginable grief.
Bo’s absence is not just felt at the dinner table or in the quiet of his empty room—it is felt in every space he once filled with laughter, movement, and kindness. Adding to this devastating loss is a burden the Knight family has carried quietly for the past nine months.
In April 2024, Austin—Bo’s father—lost his job as Director of Fulfillment at a prominent Utah-based company. Austin was a respected leader who oversaw warehouse operations, logistics, and efficiency systems.
His work saved the company both time and money. Despite his strong track record and tireless job search, Austin remains unemployed, a reality that has added immense financial strain to a family already navigating profound emotional hardship.
Austin has applied to hundreds of jobs, attended countless interviews, and continued to network and adapt in every possible way. His commitment to finding work and supporting his family has never wavered. But in the face of loss, uncertainty, and grief, the challenge feels even more overwhelming.
Through all of this, the Knight family remains grounded in love. They cling to memories of Bo—the brightness of his smile, the power of his performances, the strength of his hugs. The community has begun to surround them with prayers, meals, donations, and unwavering support, but the road ahead will be long and deeply painful.
As we remember Bo Knight, we honor a young man who gave his full self to everything he did, who lifted others without asking for anything in return, and who dreamed of making a difference in the world. Though his time was far too short, his impact was—and remains—immeasurable. His light continues to shine through everyone who knew him, and that light will never fade.
