Latest news with #68Overpass
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's just surreal': Loved ones mourn firefighter killed in crash into Louisburg building
Tony Juarez's young son Anthony sat in the back of the pickup, singing a rendition of Alan Jackson's 'Livin' on Love.' The performance moved the boy's father. 'I thought to myself, 'Man, this kid has a really good voice,'' Tony, long a musician, recalled Thursday as he reflected on his late son's life. Another memory: They shared a moment just before Anthony stepped in front of a crowd of hundreds to sing Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode.' Tony offered a few simple words of advice: Just focus on the music. Anthony nailed the performance and never looked back as his music career took off, Tony said. 'It was such a proud moment,' he said, his voice breaking. Tony and a swath of loved ones are now left to reflect and mourn over memories like those as they grapple with Anthony's sudden death. The 32-year-old husband and father of four died Tuesday from wounds he suffered in a shocking crash in the family's hometown of Louisburg. 'It's just surreal,' Tony said. 'I still can't believe it.' Anthony had been with his wife, Devin, inside a building along West Amity Street when a truck careened off the road, smashed through the wall he was standing near, struck him and went out the other side of the structure. Anthony was taken to a hospital but didn't survive his injuries. Police are investigating what caused the crash. 'We are heartbroken and feeling so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from our friends and community,' Devin wrote in a Facebook post. '(Anthony) was my very best friend and it's been comforting reading all the heartfelt posts by people he has impacted. 'Please do not take a single day for granted. Hug those who matter and make sure they know you love them. Luckily, Anthony lived every day like this. My babies knew how crazy their daddy was about them and he made sure I knew how much he loved me.' Anthony picked up the guitar as a child and quickly mastered the instrument, mostly by teaching himself, Tony said. He and his son would play together, and Anthony's band, 68 Overpass, had its roots in that father-son connection. Tony recalled the time they spent together fondly as he remembered playing at private events or at a local restaurant, or performing at the county fair. His music, Tony said, was perfection. 'It was probably some of the best memories I had with him, watching people coming up and congratulating him and telling him how good he sounded,' he said. Anthony's heart and soul shone through in his music, and his love for the music came second only to the love he had for family, they said in his obituary. He coached his children in sports, at times helping to guide six teams at once during overlapping seasons, they said. He served as a volunteer firefighter with the Drexel Fire Department and worked with his mother, Susan Waggerman, running Agape's Grace, his family's organization dedicated to providing services for people with mental and physical disabilities. Ever a Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan, he could pull stats from memory, and despite scoreboard deficits, he kept the faith in his teams, his father said. 'I think he lived his life to the fullest,' Tony said. 'There wasn't anything he couldn't do. If he wanted to touch the moon, he would figure a way out to do it.' A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 29 at the Louisburg High School gym.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Drexel firefighter killed after truck crashes into Louisburg hair salon
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One day after a truck crashed into a Louisburg, Kansas, hair salon, leaving two people seriously injured, it was announced that one of the victims, a Drexel firefighter, has died. According to the , at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, firefighter Anthony Juarez and his wife, Devin, were taken to Overland Park Regional Medical Center after a man driving a pickup truck crashed into the Safari Hair Styling — a salon located on West Amity Street in Louisburg. Two seriously injured after car crashes into Louisburg, Kansas hair salon It was originally reported by law enforcement that the in the crash; however, as of Wednesday morning, it was announced that Juarez died from his injuries at about . Police said he was surrounded by family at the time of his death, including his wife who is expected to recover from her injuries. According to, Juarez served as a firefighter for the last nine years and was known as a 'beloved' teammate and member of the community. Juarez was also a musician and frequently performed with his band, '68 Overpass,' at a variety of venues and the Drexel Pumpkin Festival. 'Please keep the Juarez family in your prayers as they attempt to navigate this difficult circumstance in which they find themselves. In order to allow the family to grieve, we ask that you respect their privacy at this time,' the . 'I also ask that you keep the Drexel Fire Department members in your prayers, as they too are grieving this morning. We also pray for the first responders who handled the call in Louisburg, and for the OPRMC medical team that worked so valiantly to save Anthony's life.' In response to the recent update, the on Wednesday morning. Deputies said: 'We are extremely heartbroken from the passing of Anthony. Many of our staff know the Juarez family and are grieving as well. We will support the Drexel Volunteer Fire Department in any capacity that we can and send our deepest condolences to Devin, Anthony's family and the Drexel Firefighters.' The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Louisburg Police Department. This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
