By Chad Frey
Newton Kansan

Michele Clark, owner of Images by Michele Clark and Newton Kansan contractor, is partnering with Sunflower Tire and Auto for a fundraiser to help the Guzman family – a Newton family involved in a one car fatal accident in Oklahoma.

While Sunflower Tire and Auto is offering customers an opportunity to donate to the family while donated $5 from each oil change performed by the business, Clark will be giving away a free family photo sitting via drawing from donations made at the business, 1107 Washington Road.

“I can’t do much, but I can use my God-given talents,” Clark said.

Sunflower Tire and Auto will be collecting and making donations for the month of September.

The Gusman family operates a business of their own, a food truck named Tortas Mary which in addition to touring the county sets up shop in the Sunflower Tire and Auto parking lot.

It was Aug. 29 when the Guzman family was involved in a fatal accident. Former Newton High School soccer team Osiel Guzman died in the one car crash in Oklahoma. Marisol Garza-Martinez, 51, and Guadalupe Guzman, 56, both from Newton, were flown with critical injuries to OU Health University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Another 13-year-old boy was transported to Stillwater Medical Center and was treated and released.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the crash involved a Kia Soul driven by Garza-Martinez at about 6:20 a.m. Aug. 29 on I-135 a couple miles east of Orlando, Oklahoma, in Payne County.

Guzman’s family has created a gofundme account to support the family.

“We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts and a plea for help,” wrote Gabriela Lara at gofundme.com. “A tragic car accident took the life of Osiel Guzman —please come together to help my family, as they lost their 17-year-old son and sibling.”

Initially posting a $7,000 goal, the gofundme page has raised more than $19,000 as of Sept. 5.

The account is located at https://tinyurl.com/yad96hc2.

To contact Sunflower Tire and Auto call 316-283-4242.