December 5, 2023 |
Photo – Medicine Bow town sign – Bigfoot99 file photo
Medicine Bow residents came together recently to support two local families after a tragedy claimed a life of one person and critically injured two others.
According to a written statement from Wyoming Highway Patrol, on Thursday morning last week, November 30th, Medicine Bow residents Angel Solorio and Zachary Clar were heading east on Highway 30 when they collided, head-on, with Richard King, also of Medicine Bow. Tragically, King was killed in the crash. Solorio and Clar were taken to area hospitals with serious injuries.
Wyoming Highway Patrol said 21-year-old Solorio was driving his 2013 Infiniti JX35 toward Laramie when he lost control and veered into the oncoming lane. The front end of a westbound 2015 Jeep Compass, driven by 25-year-old Richard King, collided with the Infiniti’s driver’s side fender and door.
King, who was wearing his seatbelt and was not ejected in the crash, died from his injuries at the scene. Solorio and his passenger, Clar, failed to wear their seatbelts and were ejected. Both men survived the crash.
Medicine Bow Councilman Justin George told Bigfoot99 that Wyoming Highway Patrol’s information isn’t correct. George said Solorio and King were traveling together in the Infiniti. Councilman George said both men were driving to Laramie for work when they collided with Clar, driving the Jeep Compass. George said the Solorio and King families live together in Medicine Bow.
Medicine Bow councilman Justin George said the King and Solorio families arrived in the small northern Carbon County town not long ago. Councilman George said the two families were still recovering financially from the move when the incident occurred.
George, who is acting as Mayor Pro Tem while Mayor Bradley Buum is out of town, said Marshal Roger Hawks asked him to get the Wind City Baptist Church involved. George said he was compelled to act after finding out how little the two families had.
George, who personally donated two of his own spare beds, said he created a Facebook post asking for donations of furniture and clothing for the King and Solorio families.
The Medicine Bow councilman said the northern towns of Carbon County put aside their differences to support the two families.
George said Medicine Bow, Rock River, and Hanna came together to fill the King and Solorio homes with furniture. George said Medicine Bow Mayor Bradley Buum also offered to donate items from his home.
George said as a member of the emergency medicine field, he’s encountered similar situations. The Medicine Bow town council member said ignoring a tragedy is never an option.
George said two Union Pacific Railroad employees were first on the scene of the crash. George said to allow the railroad and residents to financially contribute, he and his wife created a GoFundMe account for the King and Solorio families.
As of Monday afternoon, the King and Solorio family GoFundMe account raised $1,140.
George said he will provide an up-to-date list of needed donations on the Living in Medicine Bow and Medicine Bow Community Facebook pages. George asked people interested in donating to the two families to contact him on Facebook or call him directly.
George said as a longtime Medicine Bow resident, he appreciates the outpouring of support he’s seen for the King and Solorio families during this tragic time.
According to the King and Solorio Family GoFundMe page, Solorio suffered a broken pelvis and femur along with several other unspecified injuries. George said the young man is expected to return home soon.
A GoFundMe has also been set up for the third man involved in last Thursday’s crash, Zachary Clar. On the website, family friend Leslie Warta said Clar suffered two broken vertebrae, a broken collarbone, and a broken arm in the collision. In a December 2nd update, Warta said Clar is in stable, but critical condition and is paralyzed from the neck down.
We will provide links to both GoFundMe pages when this story is posted to the Bigfoot99 website later today.
The King and Solorio Family Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-king-solorio-families
Support for the Clar Family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-clar-family?utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1j65WvOulbPjL4ZwSkF7WhJ4GctOcB2RXRznPvuxqE-YYlQctxSPuQaiM
