Keri McAfee of Gallatin would like the friends of her nephew, Earl Wayne McAfee, who died in an accident Aug. 9 in Carthage, to know that a memorial has been established for him and his two small children, who were also fatally injured in the accident.
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Wayne is the son of Traci McAfee of Carthage, and the grandson of Ralph and Vanda Davis of Gallatin He lived with his grandparents in Gallatin for about nine years and attended Searcy Elementary School.
"Some of his friends from the area have called wanting to know what they can do," said Keri.
Contributions may be made toward funeral expenses through the McAfee and Schlecter Memorial Fund established at the US Bank in Carthage. You may also give locally to Ralph and Vanda Davis, 902 S. Prospect, Gallatin, Mo. 64640.
"There have been so many kind words and prayers and we want to express our thanks for that," said Keri. "And to let people know about the memorial fund to help cover funeral costs."
Wayne has a lot of family in the Gallatin area.
"It was tragic and sudden and we are still in shock," said Keri. "My dad, Ralph Davis, is a preacher and we are relying on faith, trying to get through this."
Earl Wayne McAfee, 19, his step daughter, three-year-old Jazman Schlecter, and his son, four-month-old Neil Wayne McAfee, were killed in the one-vehicle accident.
Injured in the accident were Sheala D. Wright, 23, of Carthage, the mother of the two infants, Aaron Taylor, 17, of Carthage, and Timothy Maggard, 22, of Carthage. Taylor was treated and released. The others are reported to be in stable condition.
According to the Carthage Press, Carthage Police Chief Greg Dagnan said the police were at the accident scene investigating when they discovered that there was possibly another vehicle involved that contributed to the accident. The Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash Investigation Team was called in. According to Chief Dagnan, the crash team was able to explain what happened and how the accident occurred.
The Carthage police determined from the investigation that the main contributing factor to the vehicle crashing was another vehicle that had been chasing it.
"Two vehicles got into an altercation and one was chasing the other around town," Chief Dagnan told the Carthage Press, "violating several traffic laws, running at a high rate of speed."
The vehicle driven by McAfee lost control and all six passengers were ejected from the vehicle. None of the occupants of the vehicle were wearing a seatbelt. The vehicle, a 1989 Ford Bronco, went off the roadway and rolled over three complete times.
The driver of the second vehicle, James A. Myers, has been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, which is a class C felony. Chief Dagnan said he expected no further charges to be filed against Myers.
A verbal altercation began at the EZ Mart in Carthage. Chief Dagnan said there was no physical altercation nor were there weapons used. From the time of the altercation to the accident was about 45 minutes.