Utah gov praises 'goodness of people' in bombing aftermath

Gov. Gary Herbert said he is inspired by people in Boston who rallied to the aid of his daughter and others after the twin bombings that killed three and injured more than 170.

"I thank the goodness of the people who saw somebody in need and stepped up and helped a stranger, and that's what I'll remember about this," he said. "We're grateful for Kim's success and safety. Our heart breaks for those who have been injured and had loss of life at this despicable event."

Herbert said he was tracking the progress of his daughter, Kim Cahoon, in the race Monday morning, the second time she had run the Boston Marathon, and was happy she had turned in a good time when an assistant told him there had been a pair of explosions.

The news "was a little bit traumatic," the governor said, appearing to choke up during his monthly KUED news conference. But the concern was short-lived, since he soon received a text from his son-in-law, Ben Cahoon, that Kim was unharmed.

Kim Cahoon had finished about 30 minutes before the explosion and was heading back to her hotel at the time of the blasts and was on the subway when officials shut it down and evacuated the line.

"She was disoriented; she didn't know where she was at; she was alone," Herbert said. "That coupled with her weakened condition and her sickness made it really difficult for her, but good people came to her rescue. Some strangers found her and said 'Hey are you OK?' They actually carried her [out]."

Herbert said she had to walk 5 miles after the race to get back to her hotel.

"Out of these tragedies, we see the goodness of the people, the overwhelming majority of the good people out there," Herbert said. "In my own daughter's case, volunteers came to her aid and rescue. Strangers helped carry her to where she needed to go."

Herbert also said that precautions are being taken to ensure the public safety at the Salt Lake City Marathon, scheduled for Saturday.

"Our own public safety are working with the sheriff and police in Salt Lake City," Herbert said. "There will be heightened security, and everything that can be done is being done to make sure we don't have some kind of event that takes place here that ends in tragedy."

gehrke@sltrib.com

Twitter: @RobertGehrke