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Geiger Employee & Her Young Son Tragically Killed In Car Crash

Jenn Vegtel was only 31 years old. Her son Logan, a kindergartner, was just five.

The cover photo on Jenn Vegtel’s Facebook page shows a beautiful, full-spectrum rainbow arching over trees.

[At left] Jenn Vegtel was just 31 years old; [At right] Jenn and Logan Vegtel.

In so many ways, the image is emblematic of who Vegtel was as a person, say those who knew her. Positive, kind, generous, selfless. A loving, devoted mother and a dedicated, beloved co-worker who brought a light to the office. Indeed, that’s how Vegtel’s colleagues at Top 40 distributor Geiger (asi/202900) were remembering the 31-year-old mother this week after she and her son Logan, 5, tragically died in a four-vehicle car accident in Arizona on Monday.

“For everyone who had the great pleasure of knowing her, Jenn was the light of our office,” said Julie Kosloski, a Geiger sales partner. “For the ones who did not know her, she was the most generous, positive person I ever have known. She was a great mom, wife, awesome co-worker, and a huge asset to Geiger. She was an extraordinary human being. My heart breaks for her family.”

Vegtel is survived by her husband Jacob Vegtel. Logan was the couple’s only child. A GoFundMe page has been set up. It had generated nearly $12,400 in donations as of early Wednesday. “Jenn’s husband adored her and Logan. They had a very strong loving relationship. We are expressing our deepest condolences to him for this tragic and incomprehensible loss,” said Jo-an Lantz, Geiger’s COO and incoming president.

The Vegtel family.

Logan was a kindergartner at Scottsdale Unified School District’s Redfield Elementary School. Media reports indicate the district is providing a team of mental health professionals to help students, staff and teachers deal with the grief of the loss.

“Logan was full of life and energy,” says a statement on the GoFund Me page. “This year he started kindergarten and was so excited to be going to school. He loved dinosaurs and wanted to be a paleontologist when he grew up.”

Vegtel was a key account specialist at Geiger’s Scottsdale, AZ office. She was traveling home with her son when the accident occurred on State Route 51.

Press accounts indicate that Edgar Ramos-Esteban, 34, was driving a Chevrolet pickup that crashed into the rear of Vegtel’s Kia sedan. That triggered a chain reaction that rammed the Kia into a Volkswagen sedan. The Volkswagen then hit an Isuzu truck. Police cited Ramos-Esteban, but said that impairment does not appear to be a factor in the crash. “This is a case of a driver not being able to slow fast enough for slowing traffic,” a state trooper told azcentral.com.

In the wake of the tragedy, there was an outpouring of grief, love and reflection for Vegtel and her child. Lantz recalled how, last year, Vegtel inspired the Geiger team when she reached a significant goal by running in the final leg at the Maine Marathon Relay. “She joined 20 Geiger colleagues for a weekend of achievement and celebration,” Lantz said. “Her spirit, love, and determination touched us all. I am devastated.”

On Vegtel’s Facebook page, one poster wrote to her: “You were my rock and my best friend! I never thought I would have to do this world without you!...I love you to the moon and back (and) can’t wait to see you again!”

“Jenn was an amazing woman, and just exuded the happiness and kindness that seems to be missing from this world today,” wrote a woman who commented on the GoFundMe page. “Rest in peace Jenn and Logan. My sincere condolences to Jacob, and all of their family and friends.”

Vegtel’s father posted on Facebook to say that the positive remembrances about his daughter are helping the family cope. “Thank you so much everyone for all the loving and thoughtful prayers and comments,” Lee Edger wrote. “They really do help the family heal. We are all still in shock and just taking it (hour-by-hour), day by day. It's also really good to see how many lives (Jenn) has really touched. She was always fun-loving, bubbly, and (the) life of the party…RIP Jennifer and Logan. We miss you and love you.”

In a separate post, Edger added: “Hold your loved ones tight. Tomorrow is never promised.”

In the wake of the tragedy, Edger’s sentiment was something many at Geiger were acting upon as they dealt with the heartbreak of Vegtel’s loss. “Something like this can really make you reset your priorities,” said Laura Bosse, Geiger’s VP of human resources. “Feeling immense love for my family, my extended family, and all of my colleagues and friends.”