ROSE BUD, Ark.-Per news released Friday, late Thursday, a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost his life in a car accident.
Church spokesman Sam Penrod confirmed the incident occurred at Rose Bud, Ark., in the Church’s Arkansas Little Rock Mission.
Penrod stated that four missionaries were involved in the car accident with Elder Jake Smith of Lehi, Utah passing away in the incident.
The 19-year-old Smith had been serving since August 2019.
The other three missionaries in the vehicle were injured, but are expected to recover.
They are Elder McKay Jurges of West Jordan, Utah (who sustained serious injuries and is currently hospitalized), Elder Gavin Hatch of Cedar Hills, Utah and Elder Eli Sutherland of San Diego.
Hatch and Sutherland each sustained minor injuries in the accident.
Penrod confirmed the Church is praying for them and the Salt Lake City-based faith expresses condolences to Smith’s family and all missionaries in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission.
Rose Bud is located 54 miles northeast of Little Rock.
