Three victims who died in a tragic crash on I-70 on Tuesday are from Topeka.
38-year-old Ricardo Mireles's Ford Taurus was wedged underneath a semi in the westbound lanes when another 18 wheeler crashed into several cars that were stopped on the turnpike.
Mireles's family didn't want to be on camera but wanted to share pictures.
Ricardo Mireles died in a car crash on I-70 in Bonner Springs Tuesday.
Ricardo's sister tells us he was a hard worker and a family man. When he wasn't working he was spending time with his five-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter, he was watching the Chiefs and the Royals. His sister says he loved chocolate and had a great sense of humor. The family tells us, "words cannot describe what his absence is doing to our family."
Two other victims, 83-year-old Dr. Sheldon Cohen and his wife, 79-year-old Virginia Cohen, were in the Buick LaCrosse that ended up in a ditch.
They dedicated 50 years to Washburn University and were active members in the community.
Dr. Sheldon Cohen and his wife, Virginia Cohen, were active members of the Washburn University community before their deaths.
"Both of them were teachers. I mean, what greater accolade can you give to someone? They were phenomenal teachers," University President Jerry Farley said.
Sheldon Cohen began teaching chemistry at Washburn in 1960, and Virginia taught for more than 10 years. Shel continued teaching for almost 20 years even after retirement.
Farley says they helped build Washburn into what it is today, always supporting every event.
Dr. Cohen won the distinguished Col. John Ritchie Award for his service in 2010.
"He's going to be missed, and people will look around and it just won't feel right without Dr. Cohen. He has a great legacy here at Washburn," Farley said.
Washburn will plan a memorial this fall.
"An accident occurs so fast and three seconds difference could've changed the world. But that's the way it is. What you want to do is be like Shel Cohen and live your life to the fullest, and be proud of what you've done and know that you've done something for the future," Farley said.
Officials identified the last two victims as 61-year-old Teresa Butler of Urbana, Illinois, and her passenger, 63-year-old Karen Kennedy of New Palestine, Indiana.
