They are raising funds to repatriate the body of a young Cuban who died in an accident in the U.S.

Family, friends, and other members of the Cuban community in the United States raised funds to help repatriate the body of young Gianny Estévez García, 25, who lost his life in a tragic traffic accident in South Dakota on the morning of September 18.

Estévez, who had arrived in the U.S. two years ago and was living in Fort Myers, Florida, died last Wednesday at around 12:46 a.m. when the truck he was driving collided with another truck 34 miles northwest of Philip, in Haakon County, according to a report from the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

The statement, quoted by media outlets, indicated that the driver of a 2001 Freightliner, identified as José Antonio Pérez Martínez, 59 years old and a resident of Humble, Texas, was parked in the traffic lane with his emergency hazard lights on, near mile marker 128 on SD 34 highway, when Estévez, who was driving a 1996 Freightliner in the same direction, struck the rear of the stopped truck.

Pérez was in motion inside the cabin of his vehicle when the collision occurred and suffered serious injuries that did not endanger his life; while a passenger, named Nolberto García Hernández, 51 years old and from Odessa, Texas, was outside the truck at that moment and was not injured.

However, Estévez, who was wearing a seatbelt, suffered severe injuries that caused his death at the scene.

The sudden and tragic passing of the young Cuban, in the prime of his life, has caused deep distress among family, friends, and close acquaintances.

Her father-in-law, Leonel García, created an account on the GoFundMe platform four days ago to raise the necessary funds for the funeral services and the shipment of the body to Cuba.

"My friends, family, and all acquaintances, today I find myself in this sad moment of saying goodbye to Gianny García, my son-in-law and child since his young years. I ask for your help to be able to return to a mother and a father their only little son, who in a tragic accident (...) lost his life," García expressed in his heartfelt message.

"All of us who knew him bid farewell to this young man of just 25 years old who arrived in this country only 2 years ago in search of his dream," he concluded.

The fundraising goal was $15,000, and it has already been exceeded thanks to the contributions of more than 260 donors, including friends, family acquaintances, and others, who, in a show of solidarity, helped make it possible to repatriate Estévez's body so that his parents can say their final goodbye in Cuba.

"I thank God for putting in the hearts of each one of you the desire as well as the action. No matter how much I try, I won't be able to express how grateful I am to each of the people who helped us fulfill this in one way or another. On behalf of your parents and all the people who love you, thank you once and a thousand times, thank you. May God bless you," wrote Lisset García, Estévez's partner, in gratitude to everyone who supported the family in this sad moment.

Gianny Estévez García was from the province of Artemisa.