Emily Phillips, 21, Jake Hallacy, 26, and Zachery Taylor, 26, killed by hit and run driver in Wichita on July 27.

Modified Date: 
Sun, 04/14/2019 - 9:57am
Accident Date: 
Saturday, July 26, 2014

Wichita man pleads guilty in 2014 crash that killed 3 people

The hit-and-run crash killed Zachary Taylor and Jake Hallacy, both 26 and of Valley Center, and 21-year-old Emily Phillips of McPherson. The Wichita Eagle reports that 32-year-old Juan Pablo Gandara-Rodela was three days away from going on trial when he pleaded guilty last week to second-degree reckless murder in the July 2014 deaths. Gandara-Rodela also admitted to leaving the scene of an accident and aggravated battery. Police have said Gandara-Rodela had been at a bar before running a red light in a sport utility vehicle and slamming into the side of a car.

UPDATE: Police identify three killed in crash near Towne West

Law enforcement records show a Juan Pablo Gandara-Rodela was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, reckless driving, disobeying a traffic signal and fleeing the scene of an accident inflicting great bodily harm.

Police identify victims in Wichita triple fatality collision

Police said the SUV’s 31-year-old driver ran from the scene but was later arrested at a Wichita home. He was being held on suspicion of three counts of second-degree murder and other charges

Wichita police have released the names of three people killed in a hit-and-run weekend crash.

The victims were identified Monday as 21-year-old Emily Phillips, of McPherson, and Jake Hallacy and Zachery Taylor, both 26 and from Valley Center.

All three were passengers in a car that police say was struck around 2 a.m. Sunday by a speeding SUV that ran a red light at a west Wichita intersection. The car’s driver remained in a hospital Monday, and a fourth passenger was treated and released.

Police said the SUV’s 31-year-old driver ran from the scene but was later arrested at a Wichita home.

Type: Car Accident
People Involved: 
Emily Phillips
Jake Hallacy
Zachery Taylor
Juan Pablo Gandara-Rodela
Roadway: 
Maple and Tracy

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