Jeff Rotella was adjusting the air ride on an auto transport carrier when one of the vehicles, a Ford F-350, pinned him at Manheim Auto Auction, in Lancaster County, said Hollis Rotella, his wife.

Rotella, 57, owned Jeff Rotella Transport Co., based in the Westvale area with its terminal located in Warners. The business employs 17 people, his wife said.

After Rotella became stuck, the auto transport carrier’s driver went to get help, and about 12 men lifted the pickup truck off of Rotella. He was rushed to Lancaster General Hospital, where he died Saturday. His death was caused by lack of oxygen after the vehicle landed on him, Hollis Rotella said.

To me this terrible tragedy should remind us all how dangerous this profession is. Working around powerful machinery and heavy vehicles all day everyday tends to numb us to the dangers we are susceptible to.

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Baer, 44, was to celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary next year.  He and his wife have two daughters and a son, ages 15 to 9

Edward Baer

UPDATE: An arrest has been made and Karl George Sanft, 34 has reportedly confessed to these killings. Pictured below is Jim Wightman who was killed just because he “might” have been a witness to the murder of security guard Angelito Erasquin!

Jim Wightman

David was a transport driver for Sars Auto Transport out of Tucson and was involved in a horrible accident with a gasoline tanker near Bullhead AZ on July 6th.

Rodney White wrote:

David Allen Adams lost his battle with his 3rd degree burns. Dave was pronounced dead around 2:30 on Sunday afternoon, 7-13-08. I lost my best friend in the whole world. This man was more than a friend, he was my brother and this so far is the hardest thing I ever had to go through. I can’t say enough about Dave. He was caring, giving, and he loved everybody. Dave leaves behind his mother & father and 3 brothers who loved him very much and will truly miss him. He also leaves a wife Norma & 3 children who will sadly miss their provider, their hero. DAVE, WE LOVE YOU MAN FOR ALWAYS. R.B.W

Teresa Martin wrote:

Dispatching for SARS for only six months I grew very fond of Dave Adams. He was a kind hearted man that always had a smile. Those that knew him have lost a great and deeply devoted friend. Everyone that knew or came in contact with Dave will cherish the memories of his constant smile and truely good heart. His loyal friendship to those he cared for will forever be a personal reminder to me that time is short and remember to always treasure those that bless you with their friendship. Smile down on us Dave, for that is the way I remember you… smiling laughing and enjoying your friends…my heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to Dave’s wife Norma and their children as well as Rodney, Ray and friends…time may help heal the pain, but Dave, you will never be forgotten…rest in peace.

Joe & Jacqui wrote:

Dave was a driver that you could really depend on to get the job done. Whether it is a one stop full load or a multiple picks and drops if Dave was dispatched on it, then you know it would get done. That was the difference; Dave was an old school driver. Finding a driver like Dave in this business is rarity and for that he will truly be missed.
One thing that was for sure, when Dave came to the office, you better be ready to laugh. He had a carefree spirit about him that would always keep a smile on his face and laughter in his heart. It would follow him everywhere he went because we sure did laugh a lot when he was around.
Outside of work Dave was always fun to be around. He was full of stories and had a zest for life. He could always find something good in things that were bad. It is truly an honor to have a friend like Dave. In life you meet a lot of people, but only the ones like Dave are truly called friends.
Our heart goes out to Dave’s family, friends and especially to his wife and kids. Their loss is one that can never be replaced. One thing is for sure we have lost someone very special. Dave, may you rest in peace and Thank you for all of the memories.

Dale & Pat wrote:

We all lost a good friend. Dave was very caring and was always fun to be with. He would always made you laugh. Dave we had many good times and we will not forget them. You will never be forgotten.Keep that smile in heaven. Our hearts go out to Daves family. Rest in peace

Amanda, Patrick and Bradley wrote:

Dave was a great man. Its very tragic that this had to happen to him. Im going to miss him so much.He was a part of my families life for a long time and i knew him through most of my childhood. We will miss you dearly Dave. We love you and may you rest in peace.

Cindy S. wrote:

I had the pleasure of working with dave for a number of years & I am so sad to hear that one of the nicest people i will ever know is gone & in such an undeserved way. Dave was one of those people that you were always happy to see & you always ended up having a laugh or two while you were talking. I send my prayers & thoughts to his wife, children & family. The world has lost a wonderful man & for those who never met dave, you missed out. It will be quite some time before i will be able to think of dave without crying. I am greatful that i was among those who got to call him friend. I just got the call & I am so sorry that this has happened, The world is full of so much bad & now there is less good in the world. Rest in peace my friend, we will all miss you. You may be gone but you will never be forgotten.

Melissa And Tom wrote:

We will forever miss you Dave.He were a great man and a very hard worker. He always lended us a hand when we were little and helped look after us when dad was out of town. He has been a part of our family for many years and always treated us a little sisters or even his own kids. We love you so much and not a day goes by that we don’t think about you. May our rest in peace and always look after us from above

Raymond Wilson wrote:

Dave was like my truck driving son, I am going to miss him as much as I would miss my own son if something happened to him. I spoke to Dave everyday so not only will I miss him but daily routine has been shot to hell.

For those that did not know him, Dave was a good man who treated everybody fairly and he always had a smile on his face or made you smile.

My prayers go out to your wife and kids hopefully there lives continue on the path that you wanted it to go.

Dave, now you are up in heaven with my Mom I know that she will take as good of care of you as she did me.

Keep smiling down on us,

Love and miss you both,

Ray

PREMIER SERVICES wrote:

We met Dave loading cars one day and never forgot his happy face that he always had… Dave your smile will be missed and our prayers go out to his wife and kids!! WE WILL MISS YOU!! Hang in there Rodney!!

SAD UPDATE

rodney white Says:

well this is one comment i never wanted to post, david allen adams lost his battle with his 3rd degree burns. dave was pronounce dead around 2:30 on sunday afternoon, 7-13-08. i lost my best freind in the whole world. this man was more than freind he was my brother,and this so far is the hardest thing i ever had to go thru. i cant say enough about dave, he was carring, giving, and he loved every body. dave leaves behind, mother & father and 3 brothers, who loved him very much and will trully miss him, also he leaves a wife norma & 3 children who will sadly miss there provider there hero. DAVE WE LOVE YOU MAN FOR ALWAYS. R.B.W

I read on Mohave Daily News that a car carrier collided with a fuel tanker at milepost 14 on Hwy. 68 and that one of the drivers was flown out on a helicopter.

Here is an update from the Kingman Daily Miner:

Around 2:30 p.m., two trucks collided on the route, closing both lanes for more than six hours.

According to the Arizona Department of Highway Safety, a tanker truck carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline in the westbound lanes drove into the back of a car hauler headed in the same direction. Both trucks caught fire.

The tanker truck came to a rest and burned in the westbound lanes. The car hauler crossed the median and came to rest and burned in the eastbound lanes. All eight cars on the car hauler, including one that fell off, burned.

Both the east and west bound lanes were closed until 9:20 p.m.

David Alan Adams, 41, the driver of the car hauler, was flown to University Hospital in Las Vegas for third degree burns.

Salvador Miguel Pizano, 43, the driver of the tanker truck, was treated for neck pain and released.

DPS is investigating the crash. It is unknown at this time if driver error or something else caused the crash.

Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Article comment by: rod white

dave adams is one of few well experiance car hauler’s he has driven auto hauler’s for about 10 years +. and as of today he remains in critical condition, this is extreamly difficult to deal with as his best freind of 17 years.just imagine his kids 3 and wife norma adams. this kinda stuff happens all the time, and usally the driver is blamed. there was a car involved with this wreck, my information is that there was a ford mustang that cut off the tanker driver which created this whole mess. mr dave adams has only a 60%chance of survival. as daves best freind i can only encourage anyone who has a better description of this mustang or have any other information please contact your local police dept. think of mr adams very young family, and remember just a professional car hauler hard at work supporting his family, now on his back helpless as a newborn baby. please help in the way you can.

Lets all remember to pray for Dave and His wife Norma as well as the 3 children

This update from the Mojave Daily News contradicts the Kingman Daily Miner

BULLHEAD CITY – Arizona Department of Public Safety officials have released additional information on the truck collision that closed Highway 68 for several hours Saturday.

Around 2:26 p.m., a car carrier westbound near Milepost 14 reportedly drove into the back of a fuel tanker carrying about 9,000 gallons of fuel.

The impact ruptured the tanker, igniting both trucks, officials said.

A horrible crash in Minn has claimed the life of an auto transporter out of Phoenix AZ and the driver of the vehicle that hit him. According to the Minnesota State Patrol an SUV crossed the center and struck the transporter head-on. Our prayers go out to the familys of both drivers.

ABC Eyewitness News 5 has a full story

5-16-08 The names of the two drivers have been released. The transport driver was Joseph H. Puckett, 49, of Phoenix, AZ and the suv was 18-year-old James E. Selden II, of Shafer.

This is so tragic! James was reportedly depressed. This report on startribune.com says that someone was concerned enough to call 911 when he left in his suv!

A friend from my racing days was kidnapped in Mexicali on Monday the 28th. The kidnappers are demanding more money than the family can pay. We know he was wounded in the kidnapping because there is blood in his pickup. I don’t know how serious the injuries are. He has a wife and three young children that need him.

Thanks for praying.

Mexican army just seized the kidnapers and released Ricardo Malo! One of the rescuers was shot in the shootout that resulted in Ricardo’s release so pray for him and the doctors that are treating him.