Ex-Wife Of Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash: My Worst Fear Came True

Erika Thomas later said in an interview that they were going through a divorce, but did not indicate the divorce was final and referred to Javier Thomas as her husband several times. After the following story aired, Thomas' sister called to inform KFOX that the couple had been divorced for several months. KFOX confirmed that information through civil court filings and has changed information in the following story to identify Javier Thomas as Erika Thomas' ex-husband.

A young woman said her worst fear came true when her ex-husband died in a motorcycle crash Tuesday night.

"I always told him, 'I feel that you buying a motorcycle is like you buying a death ticket,'" said Erika Thomas. "I always told him, 'I'm not comfortable when I see the news, thinking that could be you.'"

Erika watched the news last night, hoping her ex-husband, Javier Thomas, was not the one involved in a deadly motorcycle crash. But her phone rang, and her life irrevocably changed.

"I tried telling myself it was somebody else. It's a mistake. Someone else was driving," said Erika. "Up until right now, I would still call his phone and text message him. I would wait for a reply that said, 'I'm OK. It's not me.' And unfortunately, that's not going to happen."

Thomas, 21, died riding his 2003 Yamaha R6 motorcycle near Zaragoza and Saul Kleinfeld. Investigators believe he accelerated into the intersection past a car that was slowing down for a yellow light. Thomas collided with another car and was thrown from the bike. He died at the scene.

Erika said her ex-husband was a loan officer, but his real passion was playing basketball. She said he was on his way to a game last night when he was killed.

The high school sweethearts married on New Year's Eve in 2009. Throughout their relationship, Erika said Javier would write her poems and leave her notes.

"This one says, 'Hi, pumpkin. I love you mucho, mucho, mucho forever and ever,'" Erika read.

But the couple went through some difficult times with Javier's love of motorcycles a main source of contention.

"He started wanting a bike for a couple of years now, and that was the big fight we both had," said Erika. "And I believe he got the first one three months ago, and he sold that old one about a week ago. He had this one not even five days."

She hopes others will take heed and warn their loved ones about the dangers of motorcycles.

"Mothers, wives, sisters, family members give them good advice and learn from everybody else's mistake," said Erika.

The fondest memory of her ex-husband, the sound of his laugh, has already begun to fade. The sight of his smile can only be seen in pictures. The man who always cheered everyone up is now the source of their sadness.

"I don't think I could ever have found anyone better," said Erika.

Javier Thomas attended Americas High School and graduated from Chapin High School in 2008.

His former classmates, friends and family members held a candlelight vigil in his honor at the crash site at 8 p.m. Wednesday night.