KINGMAN — Friends of the three local off-roaders who were killed Easter Sunday when their vehicles were struck by a train near Kingman, Ariz., are planning a special tribute this Sunday.
Wesley Hoagland, Virginia Voyles and Larry Whatley were killed in a freak accident when they were returning from rock crawling in the Hualapai Mountains and two vehicles were hit by a train.
A week later, on Sunday, friends and family members will come from across the country to pay tribute to their lost comrades with a procession of 4×4 vehicles, a moment of silence at the exact time of day of the accident followed by a short rock crawling trail.
Whatley and Hoagland were known for leading the most difficult rock crawling trails in the region. They recently led numerous guests from across the country on a series of runs called March Madness.
Both men were leaders with Rocks And Wheels (RAW), a local club that helps off-road tourists find volunteer guides in Mohave County, and arranges for a series of local runs each March and October.
Voyles hosted campers and guests in March and at Rocktoberfest for RAW, but was always willing to step up when out-of-towners needed a place to camp while wheeling.
Voyles, Hoaglund and Whately entertained more than 100 off-roaders on a dozen different trails at March Madness just a couple weeks ago.
Friends, including many from out-of-state, will meet at the Kingman Powerhouse Visitor Center on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. There will be a procession through parts of Kingman ending at a railroad bridge on Old Trails Road known locally as Black Bridge.
There will be a moment of silence at 2:42 p.m., the time official records say the three perished.
The rock crawlers among the group will then tackle a short, but difficult nearby trail that was a favorite of Whately and Hoagland’s.
Supporters have started a GoFundMe account to help with the families’ final expenses and have raised more than $6,000. To donate to that account go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/raw-memorial-fund