Two Freeman employees died on Friday, June 4, 2010, near Lake Isabella, Calif. when both men were ejected from a vehicle while traveling on an off-road ridge trail.
Director of Sales Bence Kadar, 59, of Irvine, Calif. and Thomas Alan Johnson (TJ), 56, of Corona, California, were pronounced dead at the scene shortly after Kadar’s Jeep rolled approximately 250 feet down a mountainside where both men were thrown clear of the vehicle.
Emergency personnel were dispatched at 6 p.m. and arrived on scene at 6:05 p.m., however, it took 20 minutes to reach the men, according to a representative of the California Highway Patrol.
An article in The Kern Valley Sun stated the Jeep was crawling down a steep trail when an unsafe turning maneuver caused the vehicle to overturn.
A statement released by the Kern County Coroner’s office said Kadar was driving the vehicle; neither of the men reportedly were wearing a seatbelt.
They will be missed:
“Our condolences are with the Kadar and Johnson families during this difficult time,” said Freeman Spokesperson Wendi Sabo. “Both family and friends truly appreciate the thoughts and prayers from across the country. It’s been a difficult few days for our staff and all those that Bence and ‘TJ’ touched on their journey through life with Freeman.”
Family and friends were given the opportunity to blog about the departed on the Kern Valley Sun website and the sentiments expressed were truly heartfelt.
“I knew Bence for more that 10 years and loved him like a brother. We had many great times together and I am deeply saddened by the loss of a truly great, generous, and fun-loving guy. I’m going to miss you bro,” written by Ron Browne.
Co-worker Sharla wrote, “Bence and TJ were outdoor men who loved life. This is something they loved to do, and often, but this one just happen to end in a very very horrible accident that affected many many people. It goes without saying, prayers for their families and friends and they truly will be missed.”
Memorial services for Bence Kadar were held June 13, at 4 p.m. at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Tustin, Calif. Tom (TJ) Johnson’s services were held Saturday, June 12, at the South Hills Church in Corona, California.
