Victoria native dies while helping another motorist
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Ray Lara
A Victoria native was killed after being hit by a car Monday night on a U.S. Highway 59 feeder road in Fort Bend County.
Ray Lara, 24, was hit around 7:20 p.m. as he was attempting to re-enter his 1991 Chevrolet pickup that was parked on a southbound feeder road, a half-mile south of Grunwald Road and 2.2 miles south of Beasley.
Rubina Lara, Ray's sister, said her brother, along with his wife, his eldest son and his niece, were traveling south on their way home after a day of fishing when they stopped to help a woman whose vehicle had stopped along the side of the road.
"He stopped to see is she was OK," said Rubina Lara. "He was always trying to help people out."
After learning the woman was OK and she was just waiting on her husband to bring her gasoline, Ray Lara headed back to his truck, said his sister.
Department of Public Safety officials said before Ray Lara could make it back into the vehicle, East Bernard resident Jacqueline Kulhanek, who was traveling south in her 1999 Ford Mustang on the feeder road, struck Lara near the rear of the truck before striking the side of his vehicle.
Rubina Lara said her brother was thrown 69 feet.
None of the truck's other passengers were injured.
Lara was taken by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, where he was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m.
His body was taken to the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office in Texas City.
DPS Trooper Devon Wiles said Kulhanek is expected to be charged with manslaughter.
Lara's family said they are trying to cope with losing Ray, who was known for his love of fishing and spending time with his family.
"I'm going to miss his laughter," said Rubina Lara. "He always tried to bring everyone together and was willing to do anything to help anyone."
Ray Lara lived in Victoria from birth through the eighth grade.
Shortly afterward, he and his family moved to Needville, where he graduated from high school.
Most recently, he lived in Damon with his wife and two sons and worked as a welder.
He left behind a host of relatives in the Victoria and Needville areas.
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What a terrible and sad event! This young man stopped to check on a stranded motorist -- that is a rare occurance in and of itself... but then to have been struck down so senslessly because someone was driving too fast, not paying attention or under then influence!
To this young man's family: May God comfort you in this time of tragedy! You will be in my prayers. I hope that his sons will take after him and be the type of man he obviously was.
October 8, 2010 at 8:50 a.m.This is an incredibly sad story. How devastating for his family & the girl he stopped to help, to have to witness his death. I cannot imagine witnessing something as unnecessary & horrific as this. May he rest in peace & may they eventually find peace.
October 7, 2010 at 8:41 p.m.I was the person that Ray stopped to help that night. I really hope that there are charges filed against the driver that hit him. I understand that accidents happen however this was not a busy road where there was no other option. This was a case of just flat out her not paying attention to the road and because of her recklessness a man died for simply trying to help someone. For the love of God people please pay attention to your surroundings. There is not a minute that goes by that I do not think of him and his family. To the family if you read this please accept my most sincere condolences.
October 7, 2010 at 12:26 p.m.This is a tragedy and the young man will be greatly missed by his family.
This will possibly be deleted by the Advocate, but I've just gotta say it. Familyman1122, this was a horrible accident. If the driver of the Mustang that hit him was under the influence of some substance (I'm saying this because of the possibility of the manslaughter charge) this isn't a case of God calling him home. God doesn't require the the inclusion of another party, who may be required to spend time in the Huntsville Hilton, to call home someone. If a kind and loving God decided for whatever reason that He just couldn't get along without this young man, why would he involve someone else who didn't even know the victim? This accident was NOT an "Act of God" but rather a preventable event. Whether or not the driver of the Mustang was impaired, this was the result of a person either not paying attention or partaking of something and driving impaired. If I was God, I'd be mad if someone accused ME of causing this to happen.
October 7, 2010 at 12:21 p.m.Why is it that the innocent are always taken from us??Why can,t it be a criminal,rapist,murderer,drug dealer,,always the good who try to help out ,who has a loving family,,church going,with family values,,I,ll never understand,an I,m a christan who looks up to the lord,an ask why,why,,my prays are with this family an any other family who lose someone who trys to made a difference in our sad an sick society..god bless you all..
October 7, 2010 at 9:07 a.m.When God calls you home you can not refuse! May God rest his soul.
October 7, 2010 at 7:11 a.m.