Central Avenue curves fast through Kansas City, Kansas, lined with auto-detailing shops, gas stations and panaderias. At 18th Street and Park Drive, it meets a confusing, asterisk-shaped intersection.
Aaron Becerra was 21 when he approached that intersection on the evening of September 30, 2000. This drive was part of his daily routine. He'd just gotten off work at the KCK police garage, where he maintained the cop cars, gassed them up, checked their oil. His father, Hector, lived nearby. Becerra often stopped at Hector's house after work for a shower and a bite to eat. But this night, he might have been heading to his brother Phillip's house. Phillip had been bugging him to return the red Nissan Sentra that Aaron had borrowed while his own car was in the shop.
As Becerra drove south on 18th toward Central, witnesses would later testify, he probably couldn't see the firetruck's lights or hear its siren — a solid bank of buildings obscures the view of oncoming traffic and muffles street noise. Becerra drove into the intersection without hesitation.
Pumper 9 plowed into the driver's side of the Nissan, its massive chrome grill pushing Becerra's Sentra four car lengths before coming to a stop. When an ambulance arrived minutes later, a crowd gathered to watch as responders cut the top off the mangled car to free Becerra.
At the wheel of the firetruck was 38-year-old Anthony Mots. He'd been a driver with the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department since 1994.
A witness, who had been sitting at the red light on Central when the firetruck passed him from behind, later described the crash as "vehicular homicide."
"I killed a kid," Mots repeated, over and over, to his girlfriend later that night.
But Becerra wasn't dead. Doctors removed his shattered spleen and, in a rare medical procedure, left his abdomen cut open, covered by a sterile plastic bag, to keep his bowels moist. His father, brother and sister kept a bedside vigil, as did Angela Martinez (then known as Angela Perez), the mother of his 5-year-old daughter, Sabrina. Sabrina wasn't allowed to visit her father's bedside; Martinez thought she was too young to handle the sight.
He lived for seven days, improving enough to keep his family and the doctors at the University of Kansas Medical Center hopeful, before his condition suddenly deteriorated. He died of his brain injuries on October 6, 2000. Later on the night of the accident, a Kansas Highway Patrol officer was dispatched to KU Med to pick up a blood sample from Becerra. Testing for alcohol and drugs is standard Kansas Highway Patrol procedure whenever a commercial vehicle such as a firetruck is involved in a crash. Becerra's test came back clean.
Mots also was supposed to have his blood tested. The highway patrol officer investigating Becerra's accident, Mike Gruber, did not test Mots because he believed that Mots' employer, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, would test him independently. But no one from the United Government ever tested him.
After a recent trial against Mots and the Unified Government, a jury's verdict suggests that KCK firefighters helped Mots hide to avoid a blood test that might have detected drugs and alcohol in his system.
Vickie Rehrer was with Mots the night before the accident. This spring, she told her story under oath in front of a Wyandotte County jury and later recounted it for The Pitch.
In 2002, acting on Sabrina Becerra's behalf, Hector Becerra and Angela Martinez filed a federal lawsuit against Mots and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. Represented by Daniel J. Cohen, with the law office of Davy C. Walker in Kansas City, Kansas, they claimed that the accident had violated Becerra's civil rights when it resulted in his death. That suit was eventually thrown out of court. Cohen then filed a wrongful death suit in Kansas court in 2006. It went to trial in March 2008 at the Wyandotte County Courthouse.
Showing 1-25 of 31
exactly still feel sick to know how far a woman or women will lie and make up their own versions to protect thier own selves and the wrongs and perjury commiited should by checked by by the wyanndcote county if the pitch isnt going to check out these stories especially rehrers story of okc she perjured herself under oath and has hypontized so many to believe why hse left her hometown even her own father and children do not know the truth for so many of her stories are like casey anthonys no truth or remorse of feeling for anyone but herself tony knows the truth about her its a story worth looking into shes a black widow and covers her tracks very well alot of forgesfollow her to sympathy to both families thank you tony for saving many lives and to the beccerra family an awful accident
She is so full of DRAMA everything has to be about her she likes her pot and tequila and the kinky sex she said it in the article duh don't people read anymore the article says it all she's a wild one ask the firefighters you know the ones who save lives but she tried to ruin theirs I am sure the wives could tell you a few to they can tell you stories way beyond your minds imagination to.
There's a story if the pitch is willing to hire someone to investigate it her step father is inleavenworth prison they say Ken Powers check it out she got away scott free.
Did the Pitch ever checkout Rehrer's story or check her medical records yet she full of rubbish and was not under any rubble looks so sweet but not so innocent? Why did she up and leave her hometown in the middle of the night with 3 young children then in such a hurry not telling a soul well sounds like a story the pitch needs to check out you are good at digging so deep dig even deeper on her grants and oklahoma university certifcates maybe all of them see if they are real she's good a real wolf in sheeps clothing I hear.
She is so full of DRAMA everything has to be about her she likes her pot and tequila and the kinky sex she said it in the article duh don't people read anymore the article says it all she's a wild one ask the firefighters you know the ones who save lives but she tried to ruin theirs I am sure the wives could tell you a few to they can tell you stories way beyond your minds imagination to.
There's a story if the pitch is willing to hire someone to investigate it her step father is inleavenworth prison they say Ken Powers check it out she got away scott free.
Did the Pitch ever checkout Rehrer's story or check her medical records yet she full of rubbish and was not under any rubble looks so sweet but not so innocent? Why did she up and leave her hometown in the middle of the night with 3 young children then in such a hurry not telling a soul well sounds like a story the pitch needs to check out you are good at digging so deep dig even deeper on her grants and oklahoma university certifcates maybe all of them see if they are real she's good a real wolf in sheeps clothing I hear.
Par to wonder has anyone checked out Mrs. Rehrer story of the OKC bombing being under rubble for two days well excuse me but horseshit as I recall she was working elsewhere during the time of this tradegy. I mean out of the blue where she came from the real reason she left her hometown you know people around town are beginning to talk about why she left because she left her hometown so quickly and over night they say it's a strange way to leave during the middle of the night, wouldn't you agree? Her family here will protect her if they even know the truth. Her step father I believe is Ken Powers who was serving time in Leavenworth prison so go figure. But this is a person who has hurt a lot of innocent people looks like she was even trying to hurt the whole fire departments reputation that's Vickie seemingly sweet on the outside not real she's very cold and wicked on the inside. As for Mr. Mots he has to live his life everyday and why would someone who saves the lives of so many want to purposely take one life away I know his heart must be torn up and to the family of the deceased he is with our Lord and Saviour. It is written. I think the pitch should question Mr. Mots and snoop alittle more on this so seemingly innocent woman. If you were a real paper you would dig until the truth wasa known and post it front page and comment it here.
Par to wonder has anyone checked out Mrs. Rehrer story of the OKC bombing being under rubble for two days well excuse me but horseshit as I recall she was working elsewhere during the time of this tradegy. I mean out of the blue where she came from the real reason she left her hometown you know people around town are beginning to talk about why she left because she left her hometown so quickly and over night they say it's a strange way to leave during the middle of the night, wouldn't you agree? Her family here will protect her if they even know the truth. Her step father I believe is Ken Powers who was serving time in Leavenworth prison so go figure. But this is a person who has hurt a lot of innocent people looks like she was even trying to hurt the whole fire departments reputation that's Vickie seemingly sweet on the outside not real she's very cold and wicked on the inside. As for Mr. Mots he has to live his life everyday and why would someone who saves the lives of so many want to purposely take one life away I know his heart must be torn up and to the family of the deceased he is with our Lord and Saviour. It is written. I think the pitch should question Mr. Mots and snoop alittle more on this so seemingly innocent woman. If you were a real paper you would dig until the truth wasa known and post it front page and comment it here.
Has anyone checked out Vickie Rehrer's story about being under the rubble at the okc bombing she is a complete total hibitual liar she wasn't even there sure she was a grant writer but that isn't all. You can call her former boss in Oklahoma 1-580-286-9444. Even former co-workers if you can find them all and see just how fast Vickie got out of town it was over night. This person is the black widow good at covering her trail and wouldn't that put her as lying under oath hmm imagine that. Maybe her was it ou college schooling or even her certificates should be checked out to she is good at forging documents if investigated. This person has no moral but revenge out to hurt someone that doesn't do what she wants them to. I feel sorry for her friends who no telling the stories she has told them even her mother and father it is sad they don't even know the truth. Maybe the wrong one was on trial.Prayers to the firefighters who fight everyday and the family with the loss.
Has anyone checked out Vickie Rehrer's story about being under the rubble at the okc bombing she is a complete total hibitual liar she wasn't even there sure she was a grant writer but that isn't all. You can call her former boss in Oklahoma 1-580-286-9444. Even former co-workers if you can find them all and see just how fast Vickie got out of town it was over night. This person is the black widow good at covering her trail and wouldn't that put her as lying under oath hmm imagine that. Maybe her was it ou college schooling or even her certificates should be checked out to she is good at forging documents if investigated. This person has no moral but revenge out to hurt someone that doesn't do what she wants them to. I feel sorry for her friends who no telling the stories she has told them even her mother and father it is sad they don't even know the truth. Maybe the wrong one was on trial.Prayers to the firefighters who fight everyday and the family with the loss.
As one who lost a family memeber in a horiffic crash involving negligence and as one in the field, I think I qualify for an opinion on both sides. Brothers, don't get so offensive that people are upset about the whole drug test thing, same situation-civilian (blood test).....easy guys they are not attacking you they are attacking the actions of one that right wrong or indiferent represent you.As to Mots, in my heart I thank God you and your crew are ok and survived, sincerely, but please dont minimize someones worth or life just because thier not a firefighter, Im sure you dont. Thats whats irinic, you probably care more about it that the people trying to defend you with some pretty rediculous "Im a Hero Defense". Ill give you a defense that helped me get over the fate of my sisters killer and has enabled me to move on....It's the "Im Human Defense"...After all is said and done, I must admitt, I am wonder what the Department has done to ensure testing post incicdent?......Nuff said
As one who lost a family memeber in a horiffic crash involving negligence and as one in the field, I think I qualify for an opinion on both sides. Brothers, don't get so offensive that people are upset about the whole drug test thing, same situation-civilian (blood test).....easy guys they are not attacking you they are attacking the actions of one that right wrong or indiferent represent you.As to Mots, in my heart I thank God you and your crew are ok and survived, sincerely, but please dont minimize someones worth or life just because thier not a firefighter, Im sure you dont. Thats whats irinic, you probably care more about it that the people trying to defend you with some pretty rediculous "Im a Hero Defense". Ill give you a defense that helped me get over the fate of my sisters killer and has enabled me to move on....It's the "Im Human Defense"...After all is said and done, I must admitt, I am wonder what the Department has done to ensure testing post incicdent?......Nuff said
Some of these comments are laughable. "Do you know how many lives he saved!?" Well, he killed a man. Saving x number of lives doesn't make it okay. This isn't a trade. Go get some lube and watch Ladder 49 again if your entire life is blinded by the fire service.
Some of these comments are laughable. "Do you know how many lives he saved!?" Well, he killed a man. Saving x number of lives doesn't make it okay. This isn't a trade. Go get some lube and watch Ladder 49 again if your entire life is blinded by the fire service.
tony mots is a wonderful man.. this happened a long time ago and he has to live with this for the rest of his life.. leave the man alone.. and how dare her bring tanner and bandon into this.. hunny you two are broke up leave him and the family alone! we all know that you want revenge but havent you done enough??? i new from the moment i met you i hated you for a reason and a good one at that!!!
tony mots is a wonderful man.. this happened a long time ago and he has to live with this for the rest of his life.. leave the man alone.. and how dare her bring tanner and bandon into this.. hunny you two are broke up leave him and the family alone! we all know that you want revenge but havent you done enough??? i new from the moment i met you i hated you for a reason and a good one at that!!!
It's amazing this man is still an employee of the KCK fire department. He took the job as a firefighter and it was his civic duty to be an example to the citizens of the city he is employed in. I have brothers and friends who are firefighters and they are embarassed when they read this story, and to think that a grown man would have known better to be drinking and doing drugs all evening till the wee hours of the morning, just hours before going to work where lives were at stake. Not only did he kill someone he didn't know, he put every other firefighter in jepordy when he climbed behind that steering wheel and drove out of that firestation.
He should have been thrown in jail and the key tossed away for what he did. Shame on him and shame on the city of KCK, and also every firefighter who backed him up in this case. If his fellow brothers supported him in this deathly error on his part, it make you wonder how many other firefighters are out there are doing drugs and drinking and driving impared.
Plain and simple...he killed someone and he got away with it because the city and his supposed fellow firefighters condoned this horrible act. It really ticks me off to read about this when I have been raised to know better and never in my life have I ever seen so much corruption in a band of brothers as this.... Shame on you...you know who you are....
It's amazing this man is still an employee of the KCK fire department. He took the job as a firefighter and it was his civic duty to be an example to the citizens of the city he is employed in. I have brothers and friends who are firefighters and they are embarassed when they read this story, and to think that a grown man would have known better to be drinking and doing drugs all evening till the wee hours of the morning, just hours before going to work where lives were at stake. Not only did he kill someone he didn't know, he put every other firefighter in jepordy when he climbed behind that steering wheel and drove out of that firestation. He should have been thrown in jail and the key tossed away for what he did. Shame on him and shame on the city of KCK, and also every firefighter who backed him up in this case. If his fellow brothers supported him in this deathly error on his part, it make you wonder how many other firefighters are out there are doing drugs and drinking and driving impared. Plain and simple...he killed someone and he got away with it because the city and his supposed fellow firefighters condoned this horrible act. It really ticks me off to read about this when I have been raised to know better and never in my life have I ever seen so much corruption in a band of brothers as this.... Shame on you...you know who you are....
Props go to the Pitch for becoming like the rest of the news media, publishing nothing but negativity and only telling half the story. Clearly Ms Rehrer decided she wanted to continue her character assassination of Mr. Mots and ended up bringing his firefighting family into this, making the entire department look like they were trying to protect someone. Whether he was impaired by drugs or alcohol or not is not up to the reader to determine, it was a court matter. Yes it is horrible someone died in this event, but who is to say the exact same event would not have occurred by another driver or another victim. People die in car accidents all the time. People drive impaired all the time. What people do in the privacy of their own homes is really none of your business, no matter if they are mayor, police officer, firefighter, or Nadia Pflaum. Let it be people! Let Mr. Mots continue his life, having to live with whatever happened that day, let the Becerra family get on with their lives. We all make mistakes in life. Deal with it, get on with life, we all lose people in our lives. And to those scorned by love - Don�t bring others into your anger on life strictly because you want revenge on someone.
Props go to the Pitch for becoming like the rest of the news media, publishing nothing but negativity and only telling half the story. Clearly Ms Rehrer decided she wanted to continue her character assassination of Mr. Mots and ended up bringing his firefighting family into this, making the entire department look like they were trying to protect someone. Whether he was impaired by drugs or alcohol or not is not up to the reader to determine, it was a court matter. Yes it is horrible someone died in this event, but who is to say the exact same event would not have occurred by another driver or another victim. People die in car accidents all the time. People drive impaired all the time. What people do in the privacy of their own homes is really none of your business, no matter if they are mayor, police officer, firefighter, or Nadia Pflaum. Let it be people! Let Mr. Mots continue his life, having to live with whatever happened that day, let the Becerra family get on with their lives. We all make mistakes in life. Deal with it, get on with life, we all lose people in our lives. And to those scorned by love - Don’t bring others into your anger on life strictly because you want revenge on someone.
Judging a rag by its cover, I first prayed that "The Pitch" was not slithering into the order of �if it bleeds, it leads� journalism.
Praise be and good job: you pulled me in, grossed me out, made me think deeper, and - despite �what those girlfriends always say� - sounded fair to all parties.
I�m sure, as a firefighter, Mr. Motts saves lives. I could never imagine living with the contradictions of such a responsibility. So with all respect, it is an honorable job; however, public servants work for K. C. residents. We are the true bosses � which means, yes, we get to ask questions. Those who work for the public are never exempt from scrutiny. The article shared the questions of the initial behavior � which brought up the further, important, question of why the drug test wasn�t enforced. Maybe it would have been negative, but it still should have been done. (Would it not have been done in any other similar accident)?
It made me wonder if there is regular drug testing for firefighters and other public servants that share the responsibility of operating emergency vehicles and saving lives.
Just because you have an honorable job, doesn�t mean you can�t truly stand up to the heat.
My sympathies go to all parties involved and my thanks go to "The Pitch" for sharing.
Judging a rag by its cover, I first prayed that "The Pitch" was not slithering into the order of “if it bleeds, it leads” journalism. Praise be and good job: you pulled me in, grossed me out, made me think deeper, and - despite “what those girlfriends always say” - sounded fair to all parties. I’m sure, as a firefighter, Mr. Motts saves lives. I could never imagine living with the contradictions of such a responsibility. So with all respect, it is an honorable job; however, public servants work for K. C. residents. We are the true bosses – which means, yes, we get to ask questions. Those who work for the public are never exempt from scrutiny. The article shared the questions of the initial behavior – which brought up the further, important, question of why the drug test wasn’t enforced. Maybe it would have been negative, but it still should have been done. (Would it not have been done in any other similar accident)? It made me wonder if there is regular drug testing for firefighters and other public servants that share the responsibility of operating emergency vehicles and saving lives. Just because you have an honorable job, doesn’t mean you can’t truly stand up to the heat. My sympathies go to all parties involved and my thanks go to "The Pitch" for sharing.
I heard about this story several years ago when it happened and was glad to see that an article was written. Accountability is the issue at hand here, and it looks like noone wants to take it. Drugs & alcohol were involved- no ifs, ands or buts about it. Mr. Mots should be held accountable for driving under the influence just like anybody else would. If he had nothing to hide, he would have made sure he took the test. Even if everyone else was "confused" and thought someone else took it, ultimately the one person who definitely knew that the test hadn't been taken was Mr. Mots- or was he too drunk & high to remember??
I heard about this story several years ago when it happened and was glad to see that an article was written. Accountability is the issue at hand here, and it looks like noone wants to take it. Drugs & alcohol were involved- no ifs, ands or buts about it. Mr. Mots should be held accountable for driving under the influence just like anybody else would. If he had nothing to hide, he would have made sure he took the test. Even if everyone else was "confused" and thought someone else took it, ultimately the one person who definitely knew that the test hadn't been taken was Mr. Mots- or was he too drunk & high to remember??
like
dislike
