The Garden City Telegram
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Three killed in wreck on bypass
Published 1/25/2010 in Local News
By The Telegram
Three people were killed Sunday morning in an accident involving a passenger car and a semi that blocked a stretch of the U.S. Highway 50 bypass in Garden City for more than eight hours.
George C. Fira, 31, Pratt, was driving a 1986 Mercury Topaz westbound on Spruce Street at about 6:53 a.m. when he ran a red light at the Spruce-U.S. 50 intersection and collided with a semi driven by Stanley Kessler, Holcomb, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
After the initial collision, the Topaz went under the semi's trailer and caught fire. Fira and passengers Armando Rincones Jr., Garden City, and Angel Rodriguez, 23, Garden City, were taken to St. Catherine Hospital, where they all were pronounced dead.
Kessler was not injured.
Trooper Eric Lynch said traffic was diverted on U.S. 50 from 7:18 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. while crews extinguished the fire and cleared the roadway. He said Spruce Street was closed a quarter-mile both east and west of U.S. 50. Traffic on the bypass was diverted from business U.S. 50 to Schulman Avenue, Lynch said.
Found 27 comment(s)!
Give Me a Break!!!!
Give me a break!!!!! I was also born in Garden city and have friends or know people of all races that I like. I have never broken the law or been arrested. If You give respect you will get respect , The police department gets blamed for someone running a red light and running into a truck. The driver of the car was at fault! As for taking back roads ...The road they were on was not a back road!!! If you have nothing to hide whats the big deal no matter what road you are driving on.
Police and Sheriffs officers both are very hard working people they put up with alot of CRAP like this, When they arrest someone any color any race its because that person is breaking the law, So if you dont want to go to jail and you want to be home taking care of your families, DONT BREAK THE LAW !!! Because it will be youre fault your family is going without things not anyone elses, People should be able to grieve for their loss, but some of the stuff I am reading is not grieving its hatred. The police and Sheriffs officers put their lives on the line everyday for this community so show some respect, and dont break the law. To the ones who are talking about racism, Have you not noticed our Police Officers and Sheriffs Officers are of different races.
Posted by: Law Abiding Citizen on 2/4/2010
Place for Remembrance
First I want to say that I think it is sad that some people have nothing better to do than to come here and bring up issues that have nothing to do with the men involved in this accident. I pray that you never have to feel the pain that these three families are feeling now.
Angel was one of the kindest, big hearted people I have ever met who always had a smile on his face. I did not know the other men, but for Angel to be with them they must have been special as well. As far as I know, these families did not know each other but in one second their lives became forever intertwined. Let them at least have this space to share memories and grieve over the loss of their loved ones and take your petty, heartless comments somewhere else.
Prayers for not only these three families and the friends of these three men but also to the truck driver and his family.
Posted by: Emily Ansel on 2/4/2010
Angel Ortiz Rodriguez
As Angel's Older Brother, I would like to say thanks for your thoughts and prayers to those of you who have a heart. for those of you who want to talk about other events going on in our world, take it somewhere else please! the families of these three young men would rather be in a better place and focus on memories we share with one another. so please, i would like to see comments about prayers and thoughts about our Angel's.
Thank's again,
We love you Little Bro;)
Posted by: Manuel Ortiz on 2/3/2010
Terrible Tragedy
Please remember that these three young men have family who can read what is being said. As an Aunt to Angel, I can say that he was a tremendous person with a huge heart, smile, and a love for life. He may not have always made what society views as 'correct' decisions but that should not in any way reflect on the kind of person he was.
What happened early that Sunday morning was a terrible tragedy. One that we wish could've been avoided but can not. Life is about making choices. Most of the time our choices turn out okay. The choice to get in and drive that car on January 24 ended the lives of three young men who were loved by their family and friends. We are three separate families that are now forever changed because we look around our family tables and see a member of our family missing. If anything good is to come of this I sure hope you cherish the time you have on earth because you never know when the one you love will no longer be standing beside you.
I love you Angel!
Posted by: Ginny on 2/2/2010
Sad Story
I want to respond to Chino's comment. I am a hispanic male born and raised in Southwest Kansas to parents that worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. I also have many friends or all races. It is very sad to read in the news about the death of 3 young men and the hardships that their families must now endure. However,it is just as sad to read that another person can blame the police for the accident. The comment about having to take the back way home caused the accident is ignorant. Running the red light caused the accident, not the police. And why did they have to avoid the police? What were they doing wrong in the first place? I do agree with him that the jails and entire justice system is full of hispanics, but why is that? Just because racial profiling is occuring, and I do believe it is to some extent, the police don't make you steal things or do drugs or commit crimes. I have been pulled over a number of times in my life, maybe cause of my race, maybe not, but not one of those times has ended with anything more than a speeding ticket. Why is that? How about that is due to the fact that I'm not on drugs, or have stolen property on me or committed any other crime. A cop may pull you over due to your race, but he can't just accuse you of serious crimes unless you have done them! D.W.H.? More like driving while hispanic with no insurance or drunk or an illegal citizen. That's what gets you arrested! I will agree that the children are the ones that suffer in all of this mess, but as parents shouldn't we think about the repercussions of our actions before we do illegal activities? Hispanics need to quit blaming other races for our problems. Many things aren't set up for hispanics to get the "easy" road, but there is also no reason that we as a race can't succeed. I have, and I know of many others that also have. No one makes you join a gang, make your own choices and do the right thing! If you want to represent your race and heritage, step up, be a man, and better yourself instead of blaming others for your problems.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 2/2/2010
Are you serious?
Well..."chino" let me tell you how it works here in the good ol USA.
You break the law...you pay the price..white..black...
brown...whatever.
If kids are left alone or in SRS custody did you ever think that maybe
if the parents were law abiding citizens they wouldnt be in jail....NO YOU DIDNT.Its easier for you to blame the police instead of the real problem....breaking the law.
If you have nothing to hide why go the .."back way"
To blame this accident on the police is stupid.
Ever think that maybe the reason hispanics get pulled over more is they are the majority in Garden City now.
I am tired of the whining about this.Like i said before...if you have nothing to hide who cares if you get pulled over.Take a look in the mirror dude...THERES YOUR PROBLEM !
Posted by: RK on 2/2/2010
rampit
What does rampit mean? Do you mean rampant? If you are going to go off on a tirade, do everyone a favor and spell check it so that you can have some credibility. Perhaps then you would be taken more seriously. And it seems to me that the reason this accident happened because he ran a red light. Last I checked, that was against the law. It wasn't because of racial profiling or because he was taking the back way home. It was because he didn't stop for a red light. This is a sad accident but had he been obeying traffic laws set in place to protect all citizens, those three men would probably be alive.
Posted by: Christine Taylor on 2/2/2010
Racial profiling
i want to comment on this accident... i am neither in a gang nor am i racist, i was born and raised in garden city, i have many friends white-black and brown.. Ive watched this city grow and seen with my own eyes what it has become and our own city mayors and judge who should have done something about this seemed to look the other way. They didnt come from our streets they never hanged around with there own race, I know i knew them. Racial Profiling is here and it running rampit, our jails are full of hispanics mothers, fathers are being locked up...what does this do to the children, what does this do for the children, I will tell you it creates hatred for and against law enforcement..it creates hardship on hispanic familys, it takes food of the table. These children grow up with out a father or mother while there locked up, and in that time these children begin to fall in to trouble, there grades go down and then thats when you here about this gang crap. D ont think it happens like this.. Wake up it does! Our city judge says he does'nt belive in house arrest. So lock up the father, lock up the mother.... what happens to the children? I just explained it. Wake up smell the coffee! THIS terrible accident that happened last week didnt have to happen, (God bless these young men)but it did, WHY.. becuse they choose to take the back way home! WHY, So they could avoid our Citys Racial Profiling City COPS..(I do not speak of the Finney County Sheriff Dept.)All or most of us Hispanic take the back way home, We know better... Its the Garden City Police Department and our city municiple court and city probation... There all in cahoots.. Example: a Hispanic goes to the store he gets pulled over because he's hispanic, goes to jail, seees the judge goes back to jail, gets out and then has to deal with the city probation,..goes back to jail cause he missed his appointment,seees the judge goes back to jail for probation violaton... all for a mistemeanor and the children.. yeah...its the life of most hispanic children in garden city... and now these City Cops are giving *I SEEN U DRIVING TICKETS* Yeah, your word against the Cops in front of Our own Hispanic judge..guess who wins...Your hispanic goe to jail.. Racial Profiling cuases accident that shouldnt have to happen...but u do what u got to do to avoid Officer .P and his City Racial Profiling Crew!... Ever here of Driving while Hispainc D.W.H.
Posted by: chino cardonez on 2/1/2010
racial profiling
This accident didnt have to happen. but it did, WHY, because these 3 young men took the back way home, WHY, to avoid getting pulled over by our racial profiling cops thats why all this happened
Posted by: chino cardonez on 2/1/2010
WHY?
Why are you posting all of this gang crap?
People don't care about east side this and soldados that.
We upstanding citizens are trying to get rid of these gang's and your posting there crap for all to see.......sad.
Posted by: RK on 1/29/2010
We live to Die
I always hate to hear the that young people have lost their lives, regardless of the reason, life is prcious and nobody ever wants to die.For the familie of these individuals, i am sorry i feel your pain and honestly, God Knows why he does what he does, it may not mean alot to you know but as time goes by, you will see. Rest In Heavenly Peace to the 3 young guys.You will never be forgotten.
Posted by: Laura Robles on 1/27/2010
One Day Ur Here n Tha Next Day Ur Gone
R.1.P_To u pr1mo 1 love u with a11 my heart 1ife wi11 neva be the same with out cha no more stee1 cha 1ive in a mansion now..Love ya fo realz
Posted by: donnie on 1/27/2010
RIP from CO
my prayers and wishes to the family's.
Posted by: Michael S. Calderon on 1/26/2010
RIP ANGEL RODRIGUEZ
RIP ANGEL UR GONE BUT NEVER 4GOTTEN, WE ALL MISS YOU, UR N A BTTR PLACE NOW, MY PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY OF THE REST OF THE GUYS....
Posted by: NENA on 1/26/2010
Angel Rodriguez
R.I.P. Angel. We love & miss you! We know you are with your mama now and in the arms of the Lord. We hear your flows and remember all our good times. Your love for your family will forever be with us.
Posted by: Chris & Tami on 1/26/2010
My sympathies
My sympathies go out to all the families of these three young men. I knew Angel as a child in Deerfield. What a tragedy for all of these families. I will be praying! God bless you all!
Posted by: Rosie on 1/26/2010
R.I.P 2 ALL THA PEOPLE INVOLE N THA WRECK ILL MISS U CUZ R.I.P ARMANDO "SNOOPY" RINCONES!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: chris rincones on 1/26/2010
Crash
My heart goes out to the families and friends of these 3 gentlemen and to the truck driver. This is a tragedy that will affect many people for the rest of their lives. May God bless them.
Posted by: unkown on 1/26/2010
god bless you and your in my prayers,
Posted by: ciro on 1/26/2010
George C. Fira aka Cholo
rest-in-peace cholo we all love you and respect you. We well all miss you here on earth but now your with god and after all its a better place. You left too soon. But my sympathy goes to your girl and kids and to the families of the other friends.
~REST-IN-PEACE~
Posted by: Rebecca Hernandez on 1/26/2010
R.I.P SxOOPY much love to the fallen soldados from the east side
Posted by: spooky on 1/26/2010
R.I.p sxoopy we will miss u carnal always god need another true soldado frm the barrio de eastside
Posted by: spooky on 1/26/2010
George C. Fira
my sorrow going out to the other mens friends n family at these hard time for all of us.. to my boyfriends family i feel there pain.. george u will never be forgetten.. i will always have ya in my heart.. te ano mi amor por vida.. god touke these 3 men too soon.. george aka cholo was a great men, great father to his 3 kids, great friend to all those that know him, a great boyfriend... i sorrows goes out to everyone that know these 3 men that died too soon...
Posted by: stephaine whitmire pratt on 1/26/2010
REST IN PEACE
MAY GOD LIGHT THE WAY FOR US WHO BELIVE. MY LOVE AND RESPECT GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY OF THE DEAD
Posted by: HECTOR NEGRETE on 1/25/2010
crash
snoopy death
Posted by: chris on 1/25/2010
3 dead in Car Accident
My heart goes out to the families of the victims! This must be a very hard time for all of them! God Bless you and your in my prayers.
Posted by: NA on 1/25/2010
RIP Homie Angel!!!
just want GOD to be there for those who lost there life's and specially Family RIP homie!!!
Posted by: Junior A. on 1/25/2010
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