Dad dies after being trapped under car for hours — and bystanders robbed him instead of helping
An Arizona father was crushed to death after becoming trapped under his family’s car as he was trying to fix it — and bystanders robbed him instead of helping, his heartbroken family said.
Jeronimo Garcia Guerra was possibly stuck under the vehicle in a Phoenix parking lot for hours after the jack collapsed before someone called 911, police said.
By the time police got there, thieves stole everything from Guerra’s pockets, looted the car he had been working on and stole the vehicle he arrived in, according to the family.
“He always believed nobody out there is going to help you. In this situation, he was right,” his son, Jerry Garcia Jr. told AZFamily.
After his wife’s car broke down, Guerra drove daughter Monica Garcia’s car back to the parking lot where it had stopped to try to fix the stalled vehicle.
He got there about 9:45 a.m., and police were called around noon, his Monica told the TV station.
“Who knows when the car really fell on him,” Monica said. “Who knows how long he’s been under there.”
The horrifying incident took place less than two miles from her home.
“After everything, they went through my dad’s pockets and my mom’s car and they saw them leave with my car,” she said.
Monica slammed the witnesses who either saw the car fall on her father or saw him trapped before deciding to stealing from him.
“It’s hard because I would never do that to somebody. I could care less about my car but at least they could have stayed there with him until help came,” she said through tears.
“At least I would’ve known he wasn’t by himself all day until somebody decided to say oh my god he’s not moving.”
Her car was later found abandoned not far from the scene, though Monica says it was never about the robbery.
“That’s somebody’s dad, somebody’s husband, a grandparent, somebody’s best friend. He’s my person. And I don’t have that anymore because somebody couldn’t stop and check,” she said.
Police have not made any arrests and their investigation is ongoing.
