Mexican Consulate will help families of deceased after crash that killed 6 in Idaho Falls; fundraiser started for victim’s families

IDAHO FALLS — The Mexican Consulate successful Boise has announced it will beryllium assisting nan families of nan deceased aft a horrific two-vehicle fatality clang past weekend.

According to a news release from nan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, nan passengers successful nan collapsed van were each cultivation workers from Mexico who were successful nan United States connected H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker visas.

RELATED | Coroner identifies six men killed successful US-20 crash

Six group died successful nan van crash, and 9 passengers were injured and taken to a section hospital. The merchandise states, arsenic of Tuesday, 7 group stay hospitalized successful unchangeable condition, and 2 person been discharged.

According to Bonneville County Coroner Rick Taylor, nan deceased victims see Abel Mejía Martínez, 43, Pedro Manuel Alcantar Mejía, 26, Brandon Ponce Gallegos, 24, Jose Guadalupe Sánchez Medina, 20, Luis Enrique Sereno Perez, 32 and Javier Gomez Alcantar, 36.

“The Consulate contacted nan institution Signet Farms Services, responsible for hiring nan workers, arsenic good arsenic lawyers, to supply nan corresponding proposal and support,” says nan release, which was translated from Spanish to English. “The authorities government authorities person been notified of what happened and will beryllium coordinating immoderate steps that whitethorn beryllium required. The consular practice will promptly travel up connected nan transportation of nan deceased to their places of root successful Mexico and connected nan investigation by nan Idaho State Police and labour authorities.”

The merchandise states nan Consulate, on pinch nan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, will assistance pinch a afloat investigation into nan clang and sends their condolences to nan families of those deceased and injured.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs profoundly regrets nan decease of nan six compatriots and conveys its condolences to nan affected families, providing them pinch nan basal consular assistance and protection,” states nan release. “Consular assistance and preventive protection actions will beryllium reinforced to safeguard nan integrity of group who activity successful that state nether this labour mobility scheme.”

In this photograph provided by KIFI Local News 8, a pickup motortruck collapsed into a rider van connected U.S. Highway 20, Saturday, May 18, 2024, successful Idaho Falls, Idaho. State constabulary opportunity nan mishap happened Saturday greeting erstwhile a pickup crossed nan centerline connected U.S. Highway 20 and fatally deed a rider van. | Jeff Roper, KIFI Local News 8 via Associated Press

Fundraiser

A GoFundMe was besides started to raise money for nan families of nan deceased.

The fundraiser was organized by nan employer of nan victims, Signet Farms Service, who donated $10,000.

In nan aftermath of an unimaginable tragedy, our hearts are dense pinch condolences arsenic we mourn nan nonaccomplishment of six beloved members of our squad who tragically mislaid their lives successful a devastating car mishap connected May 18th successful Idaho,” writes nan organizers. “Alongside this profound loss, 9 of our colleagues were near pinch injuries, their lives everlastingly changed by nan events of this day.”

According to GoFundMe, nan money raised will besides spell towards assisting nan workers who were injured successful nan crash. The extremity is to raise $195,000 to administer $25,000 to each family of nan deceased, and $5,000 to each injured employee.

If you would for illustration to donate, click here.

Background

The fatal clang occurred successful nan early greeting hours of Saturday, May 18, connected U.S. Highway 20 adjacent to nan Lindsay Boulevard exit successful Idaho Falls.

A Dodge Ram pickup was walking eastbound erstwhile “it was driven near of halfway and collided pinch a westbound Chevrolet rider van,” according to a news merchandise from nan Idaho State Police.

The van was afloat pinch 14 passengers positive nan driver astatine nan clip of nan collision.

RELATED | UPDATE: Six fatalities successful awesome Highway 20 crash; 10 group rushed to hospital

“The driver of nan van, on pinch 5 different passengers successful nan van, succumbed to their injuries astatine nan segment of nan crash,” nan merchandise stated. “Nine different passengers of nan van were injured and transported to a section infirmary via crushed ambulances.”

The pickup’s driver was besides transported to a infirmary for treatment.

Both lanes were closed for 5 and a half hours, and nan westbound lane remained blocked for different hr arsenic Idaho State Police, Idaho Falls Police Department, Idaho Falls Fire Department and Idaho Transportation Department responded to nan scene.

This clang is still being investigated by nan Idaho State Police, nan merchandise said.

EastIdahoNews.com has petition nan clang study from Idaho State Police.