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A couple of Cubans residing in Jacksonville lost their lives when their vehicle plunged off a bridge into a body of water in Baker County, in northern Florida, as confirmed by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) in a statement.
The victims were identified as César Pérez, 31 years old, and Anyela González, 32, both originally from Cuba.
The tragedy has cast a pall over two families and has generated deep astonishment among friends and members of the Cuban community in Florida.
How did the accident happen?
According to official information, the incident occurred around 6:30 AM on Friday, June 19, at the intersection of County Road 23C and Ruben Crawford Road, in the locality of Macclenny.
The sedan in which the couple was traveling was heading east when the driver lost control for reasons that are still under investigation.
The car crashed into the bridge railing, went through it, overturned onto its roof, and became completely submerged in the water flowing beneath the structure.
When the emergency teams arrived at the scene, both occupants had already died.
Neither of them was wearing a seatbelt, according to the official report from the FHP.
There was no other vehicle involved in the incident.
The open investigation
The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation to determine the exact causes of the tragic incident.
Among the hypotheses being considered by researchers are a possible mechanical failure, adverse conditions on the road, or an inappropriate speed for that stretch of highway.
Authorities have not ruled out any lines of investigation nor provided additional details about the circumstances leading up to the accident.
Baker County is a rural area crossed by secondary roads with bridges over bodies of water, where such accidents are particularly deadly due to the limited time available to escape from a submerged vehicle.
The pain of those who knew them
The news generated a wave of condolences on social media.
Yanet Mosqueda, a friend of Anyela González, expressed her devastation on Facebook with words that encapsulated the feelings of those who knew her:
"My God, I don't want to open Facebook anymore because I don't want to see any more of this news. My sister, my friend, my sister-in-law, what a huge void you have left among all of us who love you."
The news has caused shock among family, friends, and members of the Cuban community in Florida, who have shared messages of sorrow on social media upon learning of the couple's passing.
A user identified as Angelita Díaz expressed particular concern for César's mother, who remains in Cuba.
"César, the only son, his mother is in Cuba desperate, very sad. May God strengthen the whole family," he wrote.
Other messages remembered Anyela as a hardworking person and highlighted that she leaves behind a son.
"What sad news, Anyela. You left your little boy. Such a good girl and fighter. My condolences to your family," expressed another internet user.
According to relatives of the victims, the couple had managed to settle in Jacksonville, where they were trying to build a new phase of their lives after emigrating from Cuba
The loss of this young couple adds to a series of traffic tragedies that have affected Cubans residing in the United States in recent years.
According to road safety data, wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death in frontal accidents by approximately 45% and in side collisions by 60%.
In Florida, its use is legally mandatory for all vehicle occupants, regardless of the seat they occupy.
While the FHP continues its investigations to determine what caused the loss of control of the vehicle, family and friends of César Pérez and Anyela González mourn the passing of a young couple whose lives were sadly cut short.
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