BajaNomad

Family emergency

LVPatton - 2-16-2009 at 10:46 PM

My stepdad my have passed away today. He was on his way to Guero Negro (sp) as he does very often. He was supposed to arrive tomorrow (originally supposed to arrive today but delayed due to weather). When he did not arrive in Guero Negro, his friend Manuel became concerned. Manuel called his brother who is in law enforecement I think and asked him if there were any accidents. He said there was a fatal accident with a white man driving a black forerunner. The man is in the morgue in San Quintin. This would be where my stepdad would be travelling because he always stops at Mama Espinozas to stay the night making it a two day trip. If he crashed in San Quintin, he did not make it to Mama's. We are going to call the veterans affairs office in California tomorrow, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, and the Mexican consulate in California to look for assistance in what to do next. This is bizzare and looking for any helpful info.

Mike

* New info, this would have happened Sunday

[Edited on 2-17-2009 by LVPatton]

[Edited on 2-17-2009 by LVPatton]

Barry A. - 2-16-2009 at 10:50 PM

Was you step-dad driving a "black foreRunner"??

LVPatton - 2-16-2009 at 10:50 PM

Sorry, yes he was.

BajaGringo - 2-16-2009 at 11:03 PM

I will be in San Quintin tomorrow afternoon. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

So very, very sorry...

LVPatton - 2-17-2009 at 08:11 AM

Thanks Gringo. My sister Becky and uncle Dave are heading down today after / during those phone calls. I do not know where the morgue is in San Quintin. They will meet up with Manuel there (he is heading north from Guero Negro). They did verify with the police that it was him from his drivers license. Things I am unsure of are the body transportation and vehicle (I am guessing it is totalled).

Thanks,
Mike

dtbushpilot - 2-17-2009 at 08:19 AM

So sorry to hear it LV, will keep your family in our prayers.....dt

LVPatton - 2-17-2009 at 08:23 AM

Thanks.

Paulina - 2-17-2009 at 08:28 AM

We're so sorry for your loss. Thank goodness for friends like Manuel to be there in your time of need. I hope it goes as smoothly as possible.


Paulina y Dern

Diver - 2-17-2009 at 08:36 AM

Very sorry to hear your news.

Here is the website for the US Consulate in TJ.
I'm not sure if they can help but there is some information that may help.
http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/death_american.html

David K - 2-17-2009 at 08:42 AM

Sorry for the loss for your family...

shari - 2-17-2009 at 08:59 AM

Our condolences to your family and I'm sure baja gringo will be a really big help as he and his wife speak fluent spanish and are outstanding people. I have U2U'd our info here if there is anything we can assist you with. Hang in there...this is when Nomads shine...when it comes to helping people in need.

fdt - 2-17-2009 at 09:20 AM

I'm very sorry to hear about this. I'm sure Baja Gringo will be very helpful. Once again sorry for your loss.
Fernando

BajaGringo - 2-17-2009 at 09:34 AM

I have a couple of good connctions in San Quintin via the Federal Police and local Diputado. If your family runs into any problems let me know. I will u2 you my contact info...

DianaT - 2-17-2009 at 09:40 AM

Really sorry to hear about your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family

Diane

wilderone - 2-17-2009 at 09:47 AM

I'll send some prayers and angels to assist in your time of need - so sorry to hear about this.

Cyanide41 - 2-17-2009 at 09:53 AM

Sorry to hear about your loss JV.

Kell-Baja - 2-17-2009 at 01:50 PM

I'm also very sorry. I do hope you get all of the help you need.

DENNIS - 2-17-2009 at 01:54 PM

You've made all the right moves with your connections. God works in mysterious ways so don't call the stepdad out till you know for sure.

BAJACAT - 2-17-2009 at 02:40 PM

LV, he is already half way to heaven, Im sorry for your loss, B-CAT

tripledigitken - 2-17-2009 at 04:16 PM

LV,

Our thoughts are with you and your family. So very sorry for your loss.

Ken and Paula

Bajafun777 - 2-17-2009 at 04:30 PM

Sorry for your loss and generally a local morgue owner can assist also in making arrangements to get the relative back across with proper paperwork. My wife had an uncle some years back that died in Mexico and that is what they had to do in the final running around in circles and not knowing. Hope your family travels safely down and back getting your step-dad back. bajafun777

24baja - 2-17-2009 at 05:35 PM

May God bless and keep your family safe and I pray that all works out for you, so very sorry. Brett & Connie

fdt - 2-17-2009 at 08:28 PM

http://elvigia.net/noticias/?seccion=elvalle&id=16752&am...

http://elvigia.net/noticias/?seccion=elvalle&id=16745&am...

BajaGringo - 2-17-2009 at 08:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajafun777
Sorry for your loss and generally a local morgue owner can assist also in making arrangements to get the relative back across with proper paperwork.


The local morgue is owned and operated by the Mexican government. I assume you mean a mortuary...

LVPatton - 2-17-2009 at 08:43 PM

Thanks for all the kind words and offers of support. My sister found his birth certificate tonight so that helps tremendously. Manuel called me late last night to confirm middle name so I knew then that it was him. I am being told he was one and a half hours from Guero Negro. According to brother in law, police report says he hit a wet spot on the road and lost control. Fatal head trauma and seat belt damaged/crushed chest and death was immediate. Mom is in Cali and uncle Dave is staying the night in San Quintin. Mortuary says they can cremate there and uncle Dave can bring ashes home to us. Thanks again for all the love, support and assistance this site is obviously known for.

Mike

BajaCactus - 2-17-2009 at 08:48 PM

LV,

We are very sad to hear about your loss... please let us know if there is ANYTHING we can do to help out... we have a lot friends and connections in this area of Baja.

Antonio Munoz
BajaCactus

BajaGringo - 2-17-2009 at 08:53 PM

Mike - I am in San Quintin right now until Friday. I speak fluent Spanish and know a lot of local folks here who are connected when you need to get something done.

Let me know if I can help in any way.

Our sincerest condolences...

lingililingili - 2-17-2009 at 08:59 PM

Extremely sorry for your loss.

fishbuck - 2-17-2009 at 09:16 PM

Sorry to hear about it!
That stretch of road is very straight. I know I have driven it at 100mph in my truck. Very white knuckle and very dangerous. Departing the paved surface at that speed would probably be fatal.:no:

LVPatton - 2-17-2009 at 09:25 PM

Bajagringo,
I sent you an email.

BajaGringo - 2-17-2009 at 09:37 PM

Got it - I will call them right now...

BajaNuts - 2-17-2009 at 11:30 PM

LV, our thoughts are with you and your family in this time of loss.
A, J, and E

vacaenbaja - 2-18-2009 at 12:16 AM

All very sad and unfortunate. People please slow down on Baja 1. Even on those straight aways, there are parts of the road that are super elevated from the rest of the shoulder.
A blow out is all it takes some times to send you rolling over
the roadside wrong side up. Been there done that, and lived
to tell about it. My thanks to everyone on this board for offering their support when someone is in need.
My heart felt sympathies on your sudden loss.

CaboRon - 2-18-2009 at 06:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishbuck
Sorry to hear about it!
That stretch of road is very straight. I know I have driven it at 100mph in my truck. Very white knuckle and very dangerous. Departing the paved surface at that speed would probably be fatal.:no:


Are you nuts ! Driving 100 miles an hour is suicidal .

CaboRon

Barry A. - 2-18-2009 at 11:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishbuck
Sorry to hear about it!
That stretch of road is very straight. I know I have driven it at 100mph in my truck. Very white knuckle and very dangerous. Departing the paved surface at that speed would probably be fatal.:no:


Good God, Fishbuck------------I am an ex-cop and I have NEVER driven 100 mph ANYWHERE, even when in a "chase".

You must have a real death-wish!!! I shutter for the other people that are near you while you drive. I am flabbergasted!!!!

Barry

tripledigitken - 2-18-2009 at 11:13 AM

Why not start a high speeds in Baja Thread? In respect for the original poster this isn't the place for it, don't you think?:(:?::(

Ken

LosCabosbound - 2-18-2009 at 11:20 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss Mike...our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Completely agree with Kens suggestion above

Barry A. - 2-18-2009 at 12:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Why not start a high speeds in Baja Thread? In respect for the original poster this isn't the place for it, don't you think?:(:?::(

Ken


Your probably right, Ken, but the subject is very closely related, it seems to me.

Of course I feel very badly for the victims family and friends-----that goes without saying, and I am sure they know that.

Losing a family member is indescrible, and we have all gone thru it----------horrible, and so sad.

Barry

lkane - 2-18-2009 at 06:16 PM

This is very sad. So sorry.

LVPatton - 2-18-2009 at 08:30 PM

All the comments are appreciated. There is a place in Ensanada that is going down to San Quintin and bringing the body to Ensanada for cremation. My mom and sisters and other friends/family are heading down to be in Ensanada at 11am for the cremation tomorrow. As for the speed he was travelling. He was 60 and not a speeder. He has made the run from Garden Grove to Guero Negro in one day before and stopped at Mama's for the night if he was tired. I'll never know if he was speeding or fell asleep. I take comfort in believing it was immediate and no suffering. If it was simply a result of a water spot, just be careful to all.

Mike

fishbuck - 2-18-2009 at 08:40 PM

Sorry if my comment about speed was insensitive. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family.

LVPatton - 2-18-2009 at 08:43 PM

Not an issue. Thanks though. Just a meesage to all to be safe.

fishingmako - 2-18-2009 at 09:06 PM

I am so sorry for the loss, my condolences go out to you and your family.

Please people slow down, what is a bit more time to be safe, we were coming from La Paz to Loreto yesterday and about 30 miles south of here a SUV went off the road and down the canyon, I don't need to tell the rest of the story it was terrible.

May the Lord be with you and your family my prayers go out to you all.