Kansas dad dies in car crash while off-roading after getting pinned under SUV with nine-year-old son still inside
BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS- A 40-year-old man died in a car accident while he was off-roading. He was trapped underneath his own car during the crash that took place on Saturday, September 10 at 1.25 pm.
According to Newsweek, the victim is Caleb Hopkins and he was accompanied by his 9-year-old son Micah and the child's 12-year-old friend at the time of the accident. During off-roading drivers go on unpaved surfaces, such as sand, gravel, mud, snow or rocks.
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Hopkins was a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. As per authorities, the officers found a 2018 Jeep Wrangler flipped on the driver's side, leaving Caleb trapped inside. He had been driving east on 39 title drop-off near 130th street. Kansas Highway Patrol believe Caleb lost control of the vehicle while driving down the drop-off.
Caleb was a member of the Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, an off-roading group. They shared the news of his death in an online post, writing, "It is with deep sadness and very heavy hearts that we inform you of a tragic accident at KRocks yesterday where we lost a friend in an off-roading accident. We ask that each of you keep Caleb Hopkins' wife, children, family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
Hopkins was declared dead at the scene. His son and his friend escaped from the car with no major injuries. At the time of the incident, the highway patrol said that all the passengers were wearing their seatbelts.
A friend and colleague of his set up a GoFundMe page for helping with his funeral expenses. Hopkins has been described as "a loving husband and father, friend to so many, and an all-around great guy."
The page said, "Caleb was passionate about his job as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant, and loved to teach AA students the ropes. His knowledge and skill as a provider were unmatched. Outside of work, Caleb loved to be hands-on with new hobbies regularly. You could often find him brewing beer, smoking meats, or boating on the lake with his family."
Caleb is survived by his wife, Erin, and two children, Madeline and Micah. As of now, $16,113 has been raised of the $20,000 goal. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, an approximate 42,915 people died in car traffic crashes in 2021, a 10.5 percent increase from 2020.
