Law enforcement authorities have arrested Paulo I. Garcia, a man accused of fleeing the scene of a double-fatal crash in southwest Kansas in 2019. Garcia was wanted for leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily injury/death and felony theft. The crash occurred when Garcia, driving a Kenworth truck, failed to yield right of way and collided with a Chevy Silverado, resulting in the deaths of Kevin Jay Coyle and his father Gerald Lee Coyle. Garcia was also wanted for a federal supervised release violation and is currently being held without bond. Little Apple Post reported

Man Accused of Fleeing Double-Fatal Crash Captured by Authorities

Law enforcement authorities investigating a tragic accident in southwest Kansas in 2019 have arrested a man accused of fleeing the scene, according to the United States Marshals Service. On July 28, the Kansas Fugitive Apprehension Task Force and the Southeast Region Fugitive Task Force apprehended Paulo I. Garcia, a 46-year-old individual, in Douglas County, Georgia. Garcia was wanted for “leaving the scene of an accident which involved great bodily injury/death, and felony theft” in Grant County, Kansas.

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 on Grant County Road 10. The collision occurred three miles north of U.S. 160 when the Kenworth entered the uncontrolled intersection directly into the path of the Silverado. The driver of the Silverado, Kevin Jay Coyle, 57, and his father, Gerald Lee Coyle, 81, both from Turpin, Oklahoma, tragically lost their lives in the accident.

While a witness to the crash was rendering aid to the victims, Garcia reportedly drove away in the witness’s pickup truck. The stolen pickup was later located in a field in Haskell County, Kansas. Garcia was also wanted for a federal supervised release violation in Wichita. He is currently being held without bond, according to 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 Garcia’s arrest will provide some sense of closure to the victim’s family.