Man Arrested in Georgia for Fleeing the Scene of Double-Fatal Crash in Kansas

GRANT COUNTY— A suspect accused of fleeing the scene of a tragic accident in southwest Kansas in 2019 has been apprehended by law enforcement authorities, according to the United States Marshals Service.

On July 28, the Kansas Fugitive Apprehension Task Force and the Southeast Region Fugitive Task Force successfully arrested Paulo I. Garcia, a 46-year-old man, in Douglas County, Georgia. Garcia was wanted in Grant County, Kansas for multiple charges, including leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily injury/death and felony theft.

In October of 2019, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported that a 2007 Kenworth truck, driven by Garcia, failed to yield right of way to a 2012 Chevy Silverado while traveling westbound on Grant County Road 10, three miles north of U.S. 160. The collision occurred at an uncontrolled intersection, resulting in the tragic deaths of Kevin Jay Coyle, 57, and his 81-year-old father, Gerald Lee Coyle, both from Turpin, Oklahoma.

As a witness rushed to help the victims, the driver of the Kenworth truck stole the witness’s pickup and fled the scene. The stolen vehicle was later recovered in a field in Haskell County, Kansas. Additionally, Garcia was also wanted for a federal supervised release violation in Wichita.

Garcia is currently being held without bond, as indicated by online jail records. Ronald Miller, the US Marshal for the District of Kansas, expressed pride in the dedicated work of the Fugitive Task Force and hopes that the arrest brings some closure to the victim’s family.