Suspect in fatal crash near Towne West to be formally charged Thursday

Juan Pablo Gandara-Rodela made his first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court on Wednesday afternoon, but was not formally charged in a weekend accident that killed three people in west Wichita.

“I don’t understand English very well,” Gandara-Rodela, 31, told Sedgwick County District Court Judge Joe Kisner.

A Spanish translator wasn’t available, so the charges against Gandara-Rodela will be formally filed on Thursday. He is expected to be charged with three counts of second-degree murder or three alternative counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count of leaving the scene of an accident and two counts of aggravated battery.

According to police, Gandara-Rodela left a west Wichita bar early Sunday morning and sped through a red light on Maple near Towne West mall. Police said the SUV slammed into the side of a Chevy Impala just after 2 a.m., killing all three people in the backseat: Zachary Taylor, 26, of Valley Center; Jake Hallacy, 26, of Valley Center; and Emily Phillips, 21, of McPherson.

Two women in the front seat, the 23-year-old driver and a 19-year-old passenger, sustained injuries in the accident but are expected to survive.

Families of the victims filled two rows in the courtroom Wednesday for Gandara-Rodela’s appearance.

Gandara-Rodela fled the scene of the accident, police said Monday, but was arrested shortly after 3:30 a.m. Sunday at his home in south Wichita.

A joint funeral for Taylor and Hallacy will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at NewSpring Church, 12200 E. 21st St. in Wichita.

Funeral services for Phillips will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in McPherson.

This story was originally published July 30, 2014 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Suspect in fatal crash near Towne West to be formally charged Thursday."