Tragedy in Our City, April 19, 2009 Friday fatality stuns neighbors By TRENT TOONE Standard-Examiner staff ttoone@standard.net MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE — Those who knew Scott E. Slater were mourning his death Saturday following a tragic automobile accident Friday night. "He was just a nice neighbor, a wonderful and friendly guy," said Chris Grant, Slater's next-door neighbor for 20 years. "He was a fun guy who liked to tease. Our kids were best friends growing up. He was someone you could count on. Slater was pronounced dead at the scene after Weber County Sheriff Lt. Matthew Bell said he ran a red light in his blue Chevy Cobalt while eastbound on Pioneer Road and collided with a white Lincoln Navigator traveling southbound on 2000 West. Bell said four females, ages 18 to 20, who were in the Navi gator, were released from McKay-Dee Hospital Center early Saturday morning after being treated for minor injuries. There are no updates in the investigation, pending the report from the Weber County medical examiner, Bell said. Grant found out about Slater's death Saturday morn-;! ing and prepared some chicken and rolls for the grieving family. Slater leaves behindi his mother, Dolores; his wife,n Mary Ann; two sons and two daughters. "It's very sad," Grant said. ° Other neighbors and relatives said Slater, a cousin to Weber County Sheriff Brad Slater, was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose world revolved around his family. James Byrd became acquainted with "Scotty" when the two worked together in Salt Lake City for Quest Communications and as central office technicians in Ogden. He was shocked when he heard the news Saturday. "He was a good guy who cared a lot about his family. He was very proud of his kids," Byrd said. "If I ever came to work and found he had the day off, it was a down er. It seemed like no matter what he had going on in his life, he always had a smile." "He has some good kids and a beautiful wife," said Fawn Slater, a neighbor and distant relative. "He always presented himself nice. He was quiet, but a good man." Another neighbor, Gerald Taylor, knew Slater from the time he was a kid. Scott used to play basketball with his son. Taylor said he admired the way Slater took care of his mother after his father died. "Since his father died, he has been a comfort to his mother," he said. "He has always been close to his mother." Several family members, neighbors and friends expressed their love and condolences in comments on the Standard-Examiner Web site following news of Slater's death. 39