A heavy cloud of grief hangs over Dodge City, Kansas, after a devastating weekend accident took the life of twenty-six-year-old Julio Perez-Pantaja. Julio was out enjoying a weekend ride in Ford County early Saturday morning, completely unaware of the tragedy that was about to unfold in the darkness.
Julio was riding as a passenger in a 2020 Polaris RZR XP four-wheeler driven by nineteen-year-old Camacho Ovalle. The duo was making their way eastbound through the dry riverbed of the Arkansas River, just near West U.S. 50 and 104 Road, when disaster struck around 4:18 a.m.
Without warning, the off-road vehicle lost traction on the rough riverbed, sending the heavy machine into a sudden rollover. The vehicle tumbled violently into the embankment, pinning Julio and Camacho underneath before coming to a dead stop in the riverbed.
First responders from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office scrambled to the scene after dispatch received the emergency call. Emergency crews worked urgently in the dark to extricate Julio from the crushed four-wheeler, doing everything they could to save the young man’s life.
Sadly, the injuries proved too grave for either man to survive. Rescuers and medical personnel pronounced Julio Perez-Pantaja dead at the scene at 5:05 a.m., along with the driver, Camacho. In less than an hour, two lives were cut short, leaving a void that can never be filled.
Julio was twenty-six, a beloved presence in his community whose loss has left family and friends heartbroken. People who knew him describe a kind soul whose warmth touched everyone around him. News of the tragic crash spread quickly through Dodge City, sparking an outpouring of tears, prayers, and shared memories.
The Kansas Highway Patrol remains on the scene and continues its active investigation into the crash details. While officials work to confirm every detail of how the vehicle flipped, the Dodge City community comes together to honor the memories of Julio Perez-Pantaja and Camacho Ovalle during this immensely difficult time.
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