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2 Killed When Tornado Tosses Car Save Email Print
Posted: 4:02 PM May 24, 2008
Last Updated: 9:51 AM May 25, 2008
Email Address: news@kake.com

A | A | A

KAKE News has confirmed that two people were killed Friday near the Kingman-Pratt County line. This is in the area between the communities of Cairo and Cunningham.

At 10:50 p.m. Friday at tornado was spotted on the ground two miles east of Cairo. The Pratt County Sheriff's Department says the wreckage was not found until approximately 9:10 a.m. Saturday morning.

It appears the victims: Gary S. Whitlow, 33 and Kimberly S. Whitlow, 29 both of Rocky Ford, Colorado were driving their 2006 Saturn Ion on HW 54 when the tornado struck. The car was found 150 yards off the highway in a field.

Early in the investigation it was feared there might be children that had been in the vehicle also and a search was initiated for more victims. An aerial search was started with an airplane from Pratt Air and finished by a search from a Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft, as well as dozens of volunteers and emergency responders on foot.

Approximately one and a half hours into the search it was confirmed there were only two people involved in this incident and the search was called off. The path of the tornado was flown also just to make sure there were no victims in the rest of the path of this storm.

According to Pratt County Sheriff Chinn, the same storm damaged or destroyed approximately 5-6 rural residences and one irrigation system.

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Posted by: ted Location: portsmouth va on May 29, 2008 at 12:46 PM
I knew Gary from university. You could not meet someone any better. He was a fine christian who would do anything humanly possible. I thought of him as a brother in physically and spiritually. He will be missed tremendously.

Posted by: CO-WORKER Location: CDHS on May 27, 2008 at 05:23 PM
MAY THE GOD HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY & PEACE AS YOU TRUST IN HIM. I WORKED WITH KIM, SHE WAS A VERY UNDERSTANDING AND NICE SOUL.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Kansas on May 26, 2008 at 10:05 PM
I did not know them. But my prayers go out to the family and friends. GOD BLESS!

Posted by: Marcia Location: KS on May 26, 2008 at 04:39 PM
My prayers and thoughts go out to the families. It's to bad that 2 goood people had to be taken away. I find peace and comfort in knowing they knew the LORD and is with him now. It's just sad that 2 CHRISTian people are gone and can no longer spread the good word of JESUS! God Bless

Posted by: Darla & Jeff Location: Pueblo on May 26, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Glenda & Nathan we are praying for you to be strong through this tragedy.We loved Kim & Gary & have lots of fond memories.I will always remember kim growing up through the years into the beautiful christian woman she became. She had truly found happiness when she married Gary. What an inspiration they both were. They will be sadly missed. My heart aches for the family & for memories that will never be made. God has two beautiful angels with him now. Kim & Gary, we love you & we will see you again someday.

Posted by: leah Location: pueblo, co on May 25, 2008 at 06:38 PM
To the people who read this and did not know Gary and Kim, they were two amazing loving people! They were good Christian people, please keep thier families in your prayers

Posted by: Connie Chavez Location: Rocky Ford on May 25, 2008 at 04:25 PM
My thoughts and prayers are with Kim and Gary's family and friends. Kim I work together at Otero County Human Services. She is a wonderful person and a hard worker, and I will truly miss her.

Posted by: Frank Tran Location: Wichita, Ks on May 24, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Our Congregation prays for Wayland and Millie Whitlow. We knew Gary and Kim from them comming and bring some joy into our church. Gary and Kim were the most kind people you could ever meet. Having them touch our lives and remembering the best of times. We can only hope that God will help their family heal with the lost. God Speed Gary and Kim, and bless their family forever more.

Posted by: Jeremy Location: Pueblo, Colorado on May 24, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Gary and Kim were married in our congregation. Kim grew up among us--we shared in her struggles, dreams and hopes, and were overjoyed when she and Gary married. Gary lead singing sometimes, and also taught in the Sunday classes. We are thankful for the ways their lives touched ours, and we will remember them always. Today the man who presided at Kim and Gary's wedding, also presided at the wedding of his own daughter. Today we were all united in joy and in grief. Beginnings and endings force all of us who are left in the wake to take a strong, honest look at our own lives. So, to anyone this message finds: Live well. God be with you.

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