Email

Print

Today, our news team traveled to the villages San Antonio and Guinea Grass to find out what happened in this deadly accident. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Two friends from Guinea Grass Village: 17-year-old Antonio Reymundo Copo and 25-year-old Alfonso Vidal Garcia, died last night after they ended up submerged in the Rio Hondo River.

This mangled GMC single-cap pickup truck was the vehicle they were traveling in, and after the deadly accident, the authorities had to haul it out of the river's waters.

It is unclear exactly what happened, but residents from San Antonio Village say that sometime before 7:00 last night, they spotted the vehicle coming down the Yo Creek Road from the direction of Orange Walk Town.

Reports are the vehicle approached this 1-lane bridge, which leads into the Village, with a lot of speed. Garcia, who was reportedly the driver, may have lost control of the vehicle. Residents tell us that just before the truck arrived at the bridge's approach, it flipped over. The truck launched over the edge of the bridge, which has a slight incline. Both were flung into the river inside the pickup cab.

First responders who live nearby heard the loud bangs and immediately came out to offer help.

Luis Adolfo Teuyul - First Responder
"We were far when we heard the noise and we ran. We came to see and the engine was already in the water and we started taking them out. That's how we got someone out who was already dead."

"When I saw the engine in the water what I did was get in to see what happened and when I got in a white pickup then we searched and we took out one. Then, we were told there were four and then five and we were not sure. He was the only one we found last night. This morning we found another one further inside."

The body of the first victim retrieved was later identified as Antonio Copo. This morning, after an extended search, the divers were able to find and retrieve Alfonso Garcia's body from the river.

For their loved ones, their sudden violent death is like a punch to the gut.

Gerturdes Garcia - Father of Alfonso Garcia
" It's really painful, but that's life because I used to advise him a lot. I don't know what happened to him."

"We ate lunch, altogether, about 12:30 the latest. He went to bed, laid down for about half an hour, and after that, he came out. I was with my next son, checking his vehicle, and all of a sudden, I didn't see when he left. I didn't see it."

"He always used to come out, but he always stays at the village. He takes a little time to come in at 7:30, the latest, 8 o'clock, but he does reach. This time, up to right now, he hasn't reached as yet."

Reporter
"My next question is not intended to be offensive or to hurt your feelings in any kind of way. I just have to ask, because it's been presented to us. There is a suggestion that maybe your son was driving fast while approaching the bridge."

Gerturdes Garcia
"Like I told you, I don't know. Because you could see, we could say that they are good at home, but outside, we could never say. We could never know."

Fermina Jiminez - Aunt of Antonio Copo
"My nieces told me that he was here at home sitting when his friend, who they call 'chuchu', came for him and told him "let's go". He asked where to and he said "let's go, let's go for a spin." His father asked him where he was going but he didn't want to tell him where he was headed to. His sisters were scolding him telling him not to leave but he, being stubborn, left. Well, about eight o'clock in the night, the news reached that they found an ID in his pocket that bears the name Delphina Copo."

For the residents of San Antonio, this bridge has been a dangerous affair for years. Once again, this deadly accident reminds them that the area is in need of speed bumps and lights to signal extreme caution to motorists. The first responders say that they have had to rescue many drivers who took an unexpected plunge into the Rio Hondo right here.

Luis Adolfo Teuyul - First Responder
"I have taken out several persons from there. This is not the first time. I will say it again, it is not the first time. There have been several. I have had to retrieve them from there, the majority."

Benjamin Chulin - First Responder
"That is what we need, support so that people can have a wider entrance, two bumps, and reflectors, so no more accidents happen."

As you heard, the families of both men did not know what their final destination was. One possible location they could have been heading is Botes, Mexico. In order to head that direction, persons have to take the San Antonio Road, across this deadly bridge and follow the road to Santa Cruz Village, which is the last village on the banks of the Rio Hondo. But as viewers are aware, the borders are still closed due to COVID-19. Local law enforcement has been keeping a constant presence in that area to enforce the State of Emergency regulations against this and other favorite illegal border crossings.

As for the bridge that they died trying to cross, this is not the first time it has made the evening news. In April of 2019, 3 men died after the car they were in plunged the river at this very same spot. The residents are pleading to the authorities to install speed bumps and lights in that area to prevent another life from being lost there.