Charges Filed In Wreck That Killed Ex-Coach
16-Year-Old Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter

POSTED: 1:20 pm CDT April 5, 2006
UPDATED: 9:43 pm CDT April 5, 2006

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Wyandotte County, Kan., prosecutors filed charges Wednesday in a wreck that killed a former football coach at Olathe North High School.

David K. Bassore, 51, of Liberty, was driving home from work Monday on Interstate 35 near the 18th Street Expressway exit when his pickup truck was clipped by a Dodge Neon. Bassore's pickup went off the road, rolling twice before it stopped on its side. Bassore was thrown from the vehicle. He died at the scene.

Prosecutors charged the driver of the Neon, 16-year-old Raul Cabrera, of Shawnee, Kan., with one count of involuntary manslaughter in juvenile court.

Officials said Cabrera is an illegal immigrant, and the judge decided the teen should remain in custody.


The Kansas Highway Patrol is still investigating the fatal wreck, but they suspect Cabrera was drag racing with another car.

KMBC's Maria Antonia reported that Cabrera's mother said her son was not racing; he was being chased by another driver and that he had been followed for several days.

Officials said they are considering charging Cabrera as an adult or upping the charge to second-degree murder.

Vigil Held For Coach

Bassore had recently resigned from his coaching position at Olathe after being at the school a year.

Wednesday night, Olathe students held a vigil for their former coach.

"He'd probably say, 'What are you guys crying over me for? I want you guys to be positive and happy,'" football player Jarod Milo said.

"Really made you feel at home, at school, and made it a fun thing and brought a smile to everybody," student Kim Burnell said. "We just want to get people involved and let them know who he was and if they didn't know him, let them know what a great person he was."

"He loved every player on his team and we loved him back," football player Raymond Due said.

E-Mail: Contact Maria Antonia

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April 4, 2006: Ex-Olathe Football Coach Killed In I-35 Wreck
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