By MATTHEW J. BAKER
matthew@du2.byu.edu
Funeral services for a BYU student who died in a car accident last week will be held today.
Jason Dean Hoyt, 23, a junior from Eden Prairie, Minn. majoring in accounting died Thursday after the 1992 Ford Explorer he was riding in crashed into a traffic signal pole, said Sgt. Gary Hodson of the Provo Police.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. in Provo at the LDS Church building at 667 N. 600 East. A viewing will be held for one hour prior to the services. An additional service will be held Thursday in Eden Prairie, Minn., where Hoyt will be buried.
Hoyt is survived by his parents, Timothy and Chris Hoyt, four brothers and three sisters.
At BYU Hoyt served under Bishop Laval Pitts as Elders Quorum President in the BYU 190th Ward.
'Hoyt was a super young man,' Pitts said, 'He was the hub of all ward activities. He was very active and everyone wanted to be around him.'
From October 1994 to October 1996 Hoyt served under President Thomas Coburn in the Argentina, Rosario Mission where he was called as a District Leader, Zone Leader and Assistant to the President.
'I knew he would be a great leader in the mission,' Coburn said. 'He had a vision of missionary work and was very diligent.'
Coburn describes Hoyt as a 'legend' in the Argentina, Rosario mission. 'Christ was the center of his life and he wasn't afraid to be bold in his testimony of Christ,' Coburn said.
Hoyt served as Assistant to the President with David Sedgwick, 23, a junior from San Juan Capistrano, Calif. majoring in accounting. 'They were like Alma and Amulek when they served together,' Coburn said, 'They rocked the mission.'
'He (Hoyt) was the most Christ-like, obedient missionary,' Sedgwick said, 'Everyone who knew him, wanted to be him.'
After serving as assistants to the President and completing missions, Hoyt and Sedgwick roomed together at BYU and took all the same classes.
'He was the best friend anybody could have,' Sedgwick said.
Jason Hoyt was pronounced dead on arrival at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Hodson said. Jared Hoyt and two other passengers, Joseph Hildebrand, 24, Alexandria, Va. and Michelle Doxey, 19, visiting from Ricks College, received minor injuries and were released from the hospital Thursday night. Doxey was the only person wearing a seat belt.
The Explorer, driven by Jared Timothy Hoyt, Jason Hoyt's brother, 24, a freshman majoring in business, was traveling south in the right lane along University Avenue as it approached the 700 North intersection, Hodson said.
A Mazda pickup truck, driven by Ramon Relyea, 21, of Provo, was making a left turn at 700 North on a green light and stopped mid-intersection when he saw the Explorer approaching.
Jared Hoyt swerved to avoid impact with the pickup and struck the traffic signal pole on the southwest corner of the intersection, Hodson said.
The accident is still under investigation and no citations have been issued, Hodson said.