In
Memorial This
Website Is Funded by a Grant from the Civil Justice
Foundation
James
Ray (Jimmy) Hamby (Oklahoma) was born January 9, 1960. He
was 29 years old when he was killed in a side-impact collision. The "side-saddle" gas
tank on his 1984 Chevrolet truck exploded when he collided
with another vehicle. He died April 10, 1989. He
left behind his wife, 4 month old daughter, and two step-children
whom he loved dearly. Jimmy loved the outdoors and
was an avid hunter and fisherman. He worked as a heavy-equipment
operator and had plans for opening a welding business.
Marty
Sturdivant (Tennessee) was an exceptionally
bright young man who had just gone to work as a sub-contractor
in the commercial construction industry in Oxford Mississippi.
He was a sports enthusiast and played baseball from pee
wee
to senior teams.
The
cause of Marty's crash is not clear. Facts indicate, however, that
he may have gone to sleep, that his tire ran off the
shoulder of the road, he overcorrected, jerked the wheel,
and broad-sided the end of a bridge rail. When the
unprotected gas tank hit the bridge rail,the truck
exploded into fire. Marty managed to climb from
the truck, on fire, but burned to death.
Marty's
family had no idea that there was any defect in the truck
that killed their son until two years after his death.
Shawn
Bishop, (Oklahoma.) At twenty-two years old
had already served four years in the Army reserve.
His
accident happened as he was coming home from a late-night
shift at work. The Highway Patrol said that the extremely
heavy fog may have caused him to misjudge the edge of the
bridge. He side-swiped the guard rail. His
truck exploded and was immediately engulfed in flames.
Shawn
managed to crawl through the windshield before he died in
the middle of the road.
November
27, 1993:
Shelly
L Meadors, age 18, (Texas) was driving on Boudreau Road in
Spring, Texas when an oncoming vehicle veered into her lane
of traffic and struck her 1982 Chevrolet pickup in her right
passenger door. The truck erupted into flames and Shelly
was killed as a result.
September
11, 1993:
Walter Hayes, 36, (Georgia)
was driving a 1973 C-10 pickup. At the corner of Maury and Jackson
Avenues, he lost control of his vehicle and struck a metal pole
on the side of the road with his right front of vehicle. The
vehicle burst into flames when the gas tank leaked and Walter
was fatally burned. There were no other vehicles involved.
Jeffrey F. "Bobby" Tompkins
April 11, 1989:
Jeffrey F. "Bobby" Tompkinswas killed in a GM vehicle. His son was only 4 years old. It was reported that the truck was stopped and he was hit on the passenger side. The other vehicle was reported as going 28 miles per hour, a collision that should have been relatively minor was fatal.
August
14, 1994:
Erin
Tureck, 10 years old, (Oregon) was riding in the back seat of
her grandmother's 88 Buick Skylark. The car was headed
southbound on Highway 97. Another vehicle, a 1976 Chevrolet
pickup, skidded across the centerline slamming sideways into
the Buick. The vehicles burst into flame when the side-saddle
gas tank of the pickup was violated and Erin died in the fire. Her
brother and grandmother received multiple burns as a result.
June
2, 1995:
Frank
A. DeSylva, 23, (Oklahoma) was driving near Drumright, OK. He
lost control of his 1985 Chevrolet pickup. He struck two
oncoming vehicles and rolled his truck causing injury to the
truck's side-mounted gas tank and the vehicle burst into flames.
He died as a result of his burn injuries.
January
13, 1995:
Clifford
E Jones, Jr. 44, (Oklahoma) At the intersection of state highways
11 and 123, another vehicle struck Mr. Jones pickup in the side
and front panel causing the truck to spin and finally come to
rest against a fence at the bottom of an embankment. The
pickup, a 1982 Silverado Chevrolet truck caught fire as a result
of the original collision. Mr. Jones died in the ensuing fire.
Bryan Galvaz
January
21, 1994:
Bryan C Galvez,
19, (Oklahoma) In an effort to stop for a left turning vehicle,
Galvez truck skidded sideways into an oncoming pickup and stock
trailer. The pickup, a 1986 Chevrolet GMC, left the highway
and landed on its top catching fire before witnesses could get
to the truck. Galvez lost his life in the fire.
WORDS
FROM BRYAN'S FAMILY: Bryan
died coming home from college at East Central in Ada where he
was just starting his higher education. He wanted to be
a pediatrician. He loved children and to quote his own
words, "There are so many babies out there that are sick
and can't afford insurance and if I could become a doctor, I
would help them whether their parents could pay or not!"
That
was Bryan in a nut shell. He was kind and gentle, loved
by many and hated by very, very few. If Bryan was your
friend, you had a loyal friend for life!
Bryan
left our mother, father and sister and a fiance as well.
We believe he was coming home to propose to her that very weekend
because we were told by a good friend who lived in the dorm
with him that Bryan had said that weekend would be the "right"
time to ask her and make it official.
The
church at Bryan's funeral could only hold around 800 people
and there was standing room only! Bryan touched so many
lives...some our family did not even know! People were
coming to us just heart-broken over his death and we didn't
even know them. It just showed us that Bryan was a good,
honest and caring person who only wanted to make the world a
better place. Of course we already knew that, but confirmation
from other people made his life seem all the sweeter!
April
2, 1994:
Orville
Myers, 54, (Oklahoma,) Saw an oncoming car trying to pass
in his lane. When he realized that the passing car would
not make it around safely, Myers ran off the highway on his
side to avoid a collision. When he corrected his position,
his 1982 Chevrolet 1/2 ton pickup truck shot across the highway
into an oncoming car. The ensuing side impact collision
caused the truck to catch fire. The driver was pinned in
the truck and died in the flames.
February
28, 1994:
Lewis
Albert Warren, 31, (Oklahoma) He was headed north on
I-35 in Noble County. According to Highway Patrol accident
report, he was either fatigued or fell asleep at the wheel. His
1981 Chevrolet 1/2 Ton pickup hit a guard rail.
Upon
impact, the vehicle caught fire. Mr. Warren died
in the fire.
December
31, 1996:
William
D. Bird, Jr., 43, (California) Was driving home from
work in his 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
Another
individual in a 1975 GMC Flat Bed Truck crossed the highway
in front of Mr. Bird. When Mr. Bird could not stop,
he hit the GMC truck in the side, the gas tank exploded
and the fire quickly spread to Mr. Bird's Oldsmobile. Mr.
Bird was trapped inside and died as a result of Thermal
Burns.
April
10, 1994:
Karry
M. Marley, 32, (Oklahoma) Was driving a 1981 Chevrolet
Scottsdale-10 pickup. Marley (headed westbound) mistakenly
entered the eastbound lane on I-40 in Custer County. The
collision resulted in fire and according to the Highway Patrol
account, the driver was pinned in the truck for 2 hours and
15 minutes before the Clinton Fire Department could remove
the body.
February
22, 1995
Franklin
D. Mundy, 18, (Oklahoma) Was driving to church when another
vehicle crossed the center line and side-swiped his 1980 Chevrolet
C-10 pickup compromising the side-saddle gas tank and causing
an immediate explosion and fire. His death was attributed
to thermal injury. His passenger also died in the fire.
July
24, 1996:
Danny
R. Tindell, 27, (Oklahoma) Mr. Tindell was driving a
1979 Chevrolet C-150 pickup truck. He missed a curve
in Payne County Oklahoma. His vehicle struck a tree compromising
the gas tank and the vehicle caught fire. Mr. Tindell
died in the fire.
September
21, 1994:
Nicholas
D. Lamkey, 29, (Missouri) Was a passenger in a 1976 Chevrolet
Custom pickup driven by George R Sartin. Mr. Sartin skidded
across Mo. Rt N. and traveled into a ditch. A second
vehicle attempted to avoid the pickup but hit him in the side
and also skidded into the ditch. After the impact, both
vehicles caught fire. Mr. Lamkey died of thermal burns
in the hospital on October 5, 1994. His wife also received
extensive thermal burns but survived.
July
15, 1995:
Steven T Seebeck, 30, (Georgia) Was driving his 1979 Chevrolet pickup. His son was a passenger in the vehicle. Another vehicle driven by Allison D. Williams was traveling east on Ga Highway 144 when it veered into the path of Seebeck's truck. Seebeck attempted unsuccessfully to manuever around the other vehicle. When they collided, Seebeck's gas tank ruptured causing fire to spread across the ground to the other vehicle. Both vehicles burned. Although Seebeck managed to get out of the truck, his son, Michael Seebeck, was trapped in the truck and died at the scene. Ms. Williams also died in the fire. Mr. Seebeck died in the Augusta burn center, October 5, 1995.
September
24, 1993:
Kenneth C. Ake, 29, (Wayne County, New York) Ran a stop sign and hit a street sign, then struck a tree. The vehicle, a 1983 Chevrolet truck, caught fire and the driver died in the blaze.
February
26, 1997:
George Shuniak, 73, (Alabama) Was traveling south on Country Road 207 when another vehicle lost control on wet pavement and skidded into Shumiak's vehicle. The 1980 Chevrolet C10 pickup was immediately engulfed in flames and Mr. Shuniak died as a result.
March
9, 1997:
John M. Lawler, 36, (Alabama) Ran off the shoulder of the road in his 1975 Chevrolet C10 pickup. He struck the side of the bridge and the truck instanly burst into flames. Mr. Lawler died in the flames and his passenger, Dustin Lawler, also died in the accident.
April
11, 1997:
Oddis
G Mitchell, 38, (Alabama) Was driving his 1983 Chevrolet Silverado pickup when he left the roadway and struck a bridge abutment and burned. Mr. Mitchell died in the fire.
October
11, 1997: Curtis
Carson, 52, (Alabama) Lost control of his vehicle , overcorrected and overturned. The vehicle burned after it came to rest and Mr. Carson died in the fire.
October
25, 1997:
Hampton
W. Clark, 58, (Arizona) Was driving his 1981 Chevrolet pickup and attempting to turn left with the light. Another driver, Reyes E Mendivil, 22, driving a 1993 Chevrolet truck collided with Clark's truck. Clark's truck side gas tank erupted and burst into flames. Mendivil died at the scene and Mr. Clark expired November 11, 1997.
October
23, 1997:
Jerry
L. Moore, 43, (Alabama) Veered into the wrong lane and hit a mail box. He then over-corrected and hit a street sign on the opposite side of the road and overturned. His vehicle, a 1985 Chevrolet pickup, burned and Mr. Moore died in the fire.
November
8, 1997:
George A Crane, 49, (Connecticut) Was a passenger in a 1981 Chevrolet pickup driven by Gene Carey. The driver lost control of the vehicle and veered across the roadway and hit several trees. It overturned, gas leaked from the gas tank and it exploded and burned. Mr. Crane died in the resulting fire.
December
16, 1994:
Jeremy
Lash, 19, (Illinois) Was driving a Chevrolet pickup truck when his
accident occurred. The cause of the accident is unknown as there
were no witnesses and no other vehicles involved but it was determined
that he died of thermal burns.
July 27, 1993:
Juan Herrera Nevarez, (41) a Mexican field worker was driving in Kern County (California) in his 1982 Chevrolet pickup. There was a total of eight people in his truck within the cab and in the pickup bed. They were struck from behind by the driver of a tractor-trailer rig. The truck was pushed into other vehicles involved and burst into flames. Mr. Nevarez died at the scene of "total body burns with inhalation of combustion products."
August 20, 1993:
John Salce, (72) Watsonville, (California) was driving his 1974 Chevrolet pickup southbound on Highway 101. He changed lanes and struck a vehicle that was also southbound clipping the front of the other vehicle causing the other vehicle to then hit him on the side. The truck burst into flames and he was trapped inside sustaining the burns that eventually caused his death. He received 60% second degree burns over his body and died September 25, 1993.
December 9, 1996:
Mark Godby, (33), Yuma, (Arizona), was driving his 1979 GMC pickup northbound on highway 95. Four vehicles were involved in this accident and details are not clear but apparently Mr. Godby was trying to pass a stream of cars and did not have time to get back into his lane. He was hit on both sides of his truck and it not only received extensive damage but burned as a result of the collision. He died at the scene.
July 16, 1994:
Virgil Lamroy Enos, (30), Sacaton, (Arizona) was driving his 1984 Chevrolet pickup on SR 87 when his vehicle left the roadway. It impacted a concrete culvert over a canal and burst into flames. Mr. Enos died at the scene.
November 27, 1994:
Kevin R Cook (29) and Maurice Franklin Fowble (65), Alpena, (Arkansas), were killed when their 1982 Chevrolet pickup was hit in the side during a three vehicle collision. Their vehicle burst into flames and the vehicle burned completely. They had no chance to get out and died in the blaze.
September 26, 1993:
Wayne Alton Nicholson (34), Denard, (Arkansas), was driving a 1985 Chevrolet pickup south of the Red Hill Cafe on US Highway 65 when another vehicle crossed the center lane and hit himcausing the vehicle to overturn and catch fire. Mr. Nicholson died at the Van Buren County hospital.
September 22, 1994:
Tammy J. Scott (24) and Katelyn E. Scott (15 months), Hornersville, (Missouri) died when Tammy Scott lost control of her 1985 Chevrolet pickup and ran off the roadway. The vehicle struck a ditch and overturned. The vehicle caught fire and the entire cab area of the truck was burned
September 26, 1993:
Esteban Silva, Harlingen, (Texas), was driving his 1986 Chevrolet pickup on FM 508 south of Govez Road when he crossed the center line. Mr. Silva was rendered unconscious from the accident but the vehicle caught fire and he inhaled carbon monoxide which along with the trauma caused his death.
October 9, 1996:
Mitchell Gary Burns, 28, Talladega, (Alabama) Was driving a 1981 Chevrolet C10. Records show that his vehicle entered a curve on AL 34 and left the road. The vehicle finally impacted with a tree. Upon impact with the tree the vehicle burst into flames with the driver trapped in the driver's compartment. Mr. Burns died at the scene.
October 9, 1994:
Ray Turbeville, (53), Graceville, (Florida) was driving on CR 173 when another vehicle sideswiped his 1983 pickup which was pulling a stock trailer. The stock trailer came loose and the truck overturned. The right front passenger was able to climb over Mr. Turbeville who was unconscious. The vehicle caught fire and burned. Mr. Turbeville died in the fire.
February 26, 1996:
Norman Shaw, III (20), Quincy, (Florida) Was traveling north on State road 267 in Gadsden County, Florida. Mr. Shaw veered across the center line striking another vehicle head on. When his vehicle came to rest, it caught fire and Mr. Shaw burned to death.
June 20, 1993:
James Mitchell Rodgers, (18), Monticello, (Florida) was traveling westbound on SR 10 when he experienced a blow out. He was driving a 1975 Chevrolet pickup that left the road and overturned. The vehicle subsequently caught fire and was totally destroyed and Mr. Rodgers was killed in the fire.
June 08, 1996:
Fransico Reyes, (22), Weirsdale, (Florida) was eastbound on Sunset Harbor Road where it splits into two lanes. Mr. Reyes entered the opposite lane of traffic in error. When he realized he was in the wrong lane he tried to cross the median to get back into the proper lane he lost control of his 1986 GMC pickup. The truck struck a tree the caught fire with the driver inside. Mr. Reyes burned in the fire.
October 15, 1995
Victoria Lindsay Hodges, (40), Monticello, (Florida) was driving her 1977 Chevrolet pickup and failed to negotiate a curve traveling onto the road's shoulder. She failed to regain control and collided with a concrete culvert and entered a ditch. Her vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment which spread to the cab area. Ms. Hodges died at the scene.
May 23, 1993
James Stuart Woolridge, 23, Wildwood, (Florida) was driving his 1976 Chevrolet pickup and lost control veering to the side of the road on State Road 35. The vehicle front fender struck a tree and rotated counter clockwise. The vehicle burst into flames after impact. Mr. Woolridge died June 8, 1993 at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
February 12, 1993
Oliver Austin Chick, 64, Harlem (Georgia) was driving his 1987 Chevrolet C10 pickup West on Georgia 10. For an unknown reason his vehicle traveled across the center median into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The left front of each vehicle struck together. The other driver remembers nothing of the accident. On impact, the vehicles exploded and burned. Mr. Chick died at the scene.
July 14, 1996
Mathew Richard Wyma, (21) & Scott Arrizabalaga, (19), Mountain Home Idaho. Wyma was driving a 1979 Chevrolet Pickup truck on Interstate 84, when he experienced a blowout causing thetruck to strike the right rear of an Izuzu Trooper. The truck exploded and burned killing both young men on impact. Another person involved in the accident was in a semi on the opposite side of the road. The blazing Chevrolet truck caused the semi to catch fire sending the driver Dennis Hall to the hospital in Boise in critical conditions with multiple burns and injuries.
June 16, 1993:
Harold L. Morris. (53), Cabery, (Illinois) was driving southbound on 100E in his 1976 Chevrolet Pickup when it was struck by a '91 Nisson Coupe hitting the truck just behind the passenger door causing the fuel tank to rupture. Both vehicles caught fire. Mr. Morris was able to escape the fire but the driver of the Nissan, Patrick Morel, (43) died at the scene.
Ivan Russell Shinn, Jr (16) & Robert M. Carter (65) Monmouth & Chicago, (Illinois) were both killed when involved in an accident where records show that Mr. Shinn crossed into Mr. Carter's lane of traffic. There was a fire at the scene.
May 20, 1994:
Alvina Martin, (18) Towaoc, (Colorado) driving on highway 160, veered into the oncoming lane and was struck in the left front by an oncoming vehicle. At impact, her 1985 GMC pickup caught fire. Ms. Martin died at the scene.
