12/1/2009 10:16:00 PM
Wrong turn, loose mine tailings cause
driver, passengers to fall to their deaths
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This photo from the
accident scene shows the hill where the truck fell before hitting the ground below.
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By LINDA STEIN
The Daily Courier
A wrong turn, loose mine tailings and a young driver played roles in a tragic accident that took the lives of four church members headed to Crown King the day before Thanksgiving.
A sport utility vehicle driven by a 16-year-old boy hit some mine tailings near the old Oro Belle Mine and skidded off into a ravine. The four occupants of the older Chevy Blazer fell 130 feet to their deaths, said Sgt. Jeff Newnum, supervisor of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Forest Patrol, who was one of the first responders at the scene, accompanied by Sgt. Rick Barnes.
"They took a wrong turn," Newnum said. "They mistook a trail for a road. When they crested toward the top, there were some mine tailings. It took them over the edge of a very steep embankment. The vehicle slipped off the trail.... They came to rest on the creek bed. It took us one full day to extricate them."
A 911 call came at about 1:30 p.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving from some quad riders who spotted the accident. The sheriff's office called in the Department of Public Safety's Ranger helicopter, which dropped off a paramedic who then hiked to the crash location near Cow Creek Road in the Prescott National Forest and determined that the four victims had died from the impact.
Newnum and Barnes hiked down to the flipped-over SUV by about 3 p.m. One man fell out of the vehicle, while the driver and a front-seat passenger remained seat-belted inside. A third man remained in the back seat.
"The vehicle was laying on its top on the creek bed," Newnum said. Because there were no witnesses, Newnum was uncertain if the Blazer rolled down the slope or was airborne at some point in its descent. The other cars in the caravan of church members were further behind and did not see the deadly accident.
Volunteers from the sheriff's Jeep Posse helped to secure the site overnight. The next day, members of the sheriff's Response Team 4-by-4 Unit "helped us get the four deceased males back to Prescott. It was extremely rugged country."
While it's difficult for the sheriff's officers to deal with death, especially with so many victims at once, it's also "nothing out of the ordinary," he said.
"We train for it," Newnum said. "We're equipped to handle it. (Still), it's not easy to work something like this.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families," he said.
Even though it was Thanksgiving, volunteers were eager to help. "We treated them as though they were our family that was trapped and deceased. We have an excellent group of volunteers."
Kevin Waycaster, 47, of Glendale; his son, Micah, 16; Garry Schneider, 67; and Robert "Bob" Fisher, 77, both of Phoenix, were killed in the accident on the side of the mountain that day, said James Tilson, youth pastor of the Northwest Valley Baptist Church. Tilson explained that a group of church members had decided to go on a men's get-together that weekend.
"It was an informal church retreat over the Thanksgiving break - a group of about 45 men and boys from our church," Tilson said. "Some had driven on that road in years past. It was a fellowship for them to have a good time together."
Newnum called the area "extremely rugged country" and an "extremely rough road." The men had followed Forest Road 711 from Lake Pleasant and turned onto Forest Road 192, which would take them to Crown King, he said. Somehow the victims' vehicle turned off the road and onto a trail, a "very rocky, very treacherous road for four-wheel drives - a 'class-three' road," he said.
Newnum described the tailings that led to the crash, now ruled an accident, as loose stones "not embedded in the mountain. This trail went through those tailings." Scrub oaks and large boulders also dot the steep terrain south of Crown King.
Nevertheless, "a lot of people like to take that trail from Lake Pleasant," he said. "It's marked 'primitive road.' Some of the vehicles are not built for that terrain. Vehicles bust oil pans, transmissions."
And sometimes people are not equipped to deal with the problems they encounter in the rugged passage. "They are not prepared food- and clothing-wise for the elements," Newnum said. But many others know what to do and "have a good time," he said.
Meanwhile, the church is mourning its members, Tilson said.
Fisher was "an usher and elderly gentleman who faithfully attended for many years," said Tilson. Schneider, a retired pastor from Iowa who had been a farmer before entering the ministry, joined the church about a year ago. "He jumped in and helped," Tilson said. Schneider taught children, sang in the choir and ushered, said Tilson, who called him "a blessing."
Kevin Waycaster, the church's administrative pastor, also worked as the administrator of the Arrowhead Christian Academy for six years.
"He will be greatly missed by students and teachers," said Tilson. Tilson said Waycaster, the father of six, also went into the ministry in later life after rising to vice president with CSK Auto Inc. Tilson called his death "a tremendous loss."
Tilson recalled Micah, a ninth-grader at Arrowhead and youth group member, as "an enjoyable, smiling young man with a lot of energy."
"The young people at the school are learning a lot about God right now, how much God loves them," said Tilson. "The kids are holding up well. A lot of people are jumping in to help. It's pretty significant as to the level of grief - three families were notified and comforted.
"We love the Lord very much. We don't always understand his ways."
A memorial service for Kevin and Micah Waycaster will be at 7 p.m. today at the Cathedral Christian Center in Glendale.
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Posted: Monday, May 17, 2010
Article comment by:
Known Philos
These were good people... Please do not hurt their memories by insulting their friends.
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009
Article comment by:
Cathy J Sirois
Some of you people are cruel and heartless in your comments. Perhaps you've never lost someone in a tragic situation so I guess you wouldn't have a clue. Think of the moms and dads, the brothers and sisters, the grandparents and friends that are having to deal with the loss of their son, brother, grandson and friend now. I know from experiance. My husband was murdered in 2006. I know what my children and I have gone through since his death. I know the pain his mother has experianced with the tragic loss of her son. We have been blessed with wonderful family and friends that have been there to support us through this tragedy and help us move towards healing. Through all of this, I've experienced Gods love, compassion, understanding and mercy. Please be careful in selecting words that these families may view that would cause further pain for them.
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009
Article comment by:
Jane & James Mardley
God loved (loves) these victims and His love allows us choices. He is no dictator and we live, and die, by our choices/mistakes/etc. To suggest God is not all loving is to admit your ignorance. I know God has His arms wrapped around the suffering and hurting families of these brave souls.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
God is sending a message II!
There are no "accidents". God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and omnicausing. He is infinitely powerful, knows everything (past, present and future), is everywhere in the universe at the same time and causes every (even subatomic) event in the universe. He probably had a good reason for this... "driving them over the cliff" event. The lesson may be in these postings, Read them carefully, read them well, listen to what God is telling us!
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
tired
I can't understand those who say "God bless the familys". Wow. That's some all loving all caring God you pray to.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
Marianne
Dear "honkybrujo" - It's appropriate to address God Fearing Folks by acknowledging their faith/beliefs. My heart pains you would find this to be offensive.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
A griever too...
These God comments are exactly why religion is crock. You think God wanted these guys dead because they were inexperienced? From someone who recently lost a family member in a similarly horrible way, the only comfort is that they are found, and heading home where they belong on. SHAME on you for blaming their death on anything but a senseless, terrible accident. My heart goes out to all the families. I know how hard is can be to lose someone (much less 4 people) so close to the holiday. Stay strong.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
Marianne
Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people but nothing comes our way that doesn't first pass through the Hands of God Almighty. The worlds loss is Heavens gain. "To live is Christ - To die is gain." May all who knew and loved these victims receive the comfort and peace of our Lord. Blessings! Marianne Elizabeth Vangalio
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
My condolences
I was not disrespectful when I commented on how television depicts activities such as off-roading. I engage in that pastime myself, but I also try to be very observant and careful. My heart goes out to their families, so don't accuse me of disrespect.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
OH MY! God Bless the families...
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
It is very sad what happened, God bless the victims and their families. For those of us living, and has any idea about driving that road for the first time, it is a very rough road; I would hope no one would try it unless they are experienced off roaders to begin with. Last time I took that road I had to help two others that broke their vehicles; one was ill prepared to fix their vehicles or supplied to spend the night. I hope others, like the ones I have come across out there will read about this accident and understand the dangers involved more when in back country.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
honkybrujo
Keep your mythology out of it, it was a pure and simple accident.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
i gotta go with no name and charlotte on this one. Bad things can happen in the woods regardless of a persons experience of preparedness.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
Charlotte
God did not kill those people! It is a tragic accident and my prayers are with their families. A little sensitivity and understanding goes a long way.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Four people lose their lives in a accident. "Jan" mocks God and the victims, while another (person) insinuates the victims were somehow reckless drivers that were pre-programmed by TV commercials. Does anybody have respect nowadays?? These four gentlemen were out enjoying themselves in Gods land and had an accident. Nothing more. God bless the victims and their families. All the best memories to you.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
God is sending a message!
God has his reasons for killing these good folks, Perhaps he wants people to be more trained, more careful in 4 wheel drive vehicles. Too bad he has such a deadly way to get the message across...
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
Grieviing with the families
It is such a loss when these tragedies occur. When I see off-road vehicles tearing through the forest, or 4-wheel drive vehicles spinning out on dirt curves and driving recklessly, I think of what is depicted in TV commercials for those vehicles, and I wonder how much influence it really does have on some drivers. Thanksgiving will never be the same for their families.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
jan
God loves you to death sometimes.
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