Marli Hamblin told her uncle that she was going to do some yard work. Minutes later, she was run over by a truck as she sunbathed in a driveway. (Family photo)
The family of a 15-year-old Utah cheerleader who died Sunday after she was accidentally run over as she sunbathed in her driveway was comforted Monday by neighbors who brought them dinner in a show of support.
"It's a trying time, that's for sure," Tyler Hamblin, Marli Hamblin's uncle, told FoxNews.com. "We're all coming to grips with it."
It was beautiful last Friday in the town of Syracuse, located north of Salt Lake City. Tyler said he spoke with Marli and her 18-year-old sister about five minutes before the accident. "Her sister told me that she had a date," he said. "She was going fishing."
Marli said she was going to do some yard work. Tyler returned to his house and heard frantic screaming coming from next door. Tyler ran outside to find Marli with a serious head injury. Her 18-year-old sister and 12-year-old brother were both in the truck.
"It was difficult to see," Tyler said. "This is life-changing for our family. We're keeping her (older) sister real close."
Syracuse police told Fox13Now.com that Marli was lying on a blanket in her driveway while listening to music on her headphones.
"The driver wasn't paying attention, obviously didn't think there would be anyone in the driveway, and just backed out," Erin Behm, a police spokeswoman, told the station. Police called the incident a "tragic accident" and no charges were filed against the 18-year-old sister, who police say was driving.
Marli was airlifted in critical condition to Ogden Regional Medical Center and died Sunday afternoon. Her organs will be donated.
"Marli's miracle ended up being the miracle for others," Lisa Hamblin, her mother, told friends and family outside their home that evening, according to The Standard-Examiner.
Tyler remembered Marli as "being just 100 percent happy all the time."
"It's just tragic, not just for Marli, but for everyone who knew her," he said.
Fox News' Edmund DeMarche contributed to this report.
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