Kurt "Misito" Garmendia died on 01 March 2006 at the Puerto Rico International Speedway (PRIS), mostly known as Salinas Speedway 1/4-mile dragstrip, in Salinas, Puerto Rico. His car failed to decelerate and crashed at the end of the track, exploding into flames. Garmendia received burns that caused his death.

Kurt "Misito" Garmendia owned LM Auto Computer, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. LM Auto Computer developed the Hyundai Accent known as "La Pulga", a car that set a 151 mi/h (242.96 km/h) record on a quarter mile run. Garmendia was not driving this car the night he died, he was in fact at the wheel of a Buick Grand National, trying to obtain a NHRA Sport Compact license.

R.I.P