Just minutes before the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2023, Andrés Felipe Euse Guzmán and his wife Lizeth Katherine Hoyos Barragán are both very young and promising professionals. An accident on the road ended his New Year’s dreams.
They lost their lives in the village of Chimbí, on the road between the municipality of Melgar and Carmen de Apicalá, at around 11.30 at night. These are the favorite places for the capital’s residents who want to go on holiday at this time of year. They wanted to go to a villa in Carmen de Apicalá (Tolima) to celebrate with friends and relatives, but sometimes this desire ended in tragedy. At least that’s what those who witnessed the incident believe.
The residents of the region, who were shocked in a short time due to the impact of the accident, were astonished when they saw the live fire. The incident was reported to the authorities immediately afterwards. They said a gray Mazda CX60 car with license plate NIV-707 unexpectedly lost control. The effect was such that travelers estimated they tried to reach their destination before midnight.
Others say the driver, apparently traveling at high speed, lost control when he reached the bend. He left the road and rolled about 12 meters. But this is all a matter of research.
There was nothing to do. While the people in the car were running towards the cliff, flames surrounded the car. The Carmen de Apicalá Volunteer Fire Department quickly responded to the emergency, but upon arrival there was little they could do. The couple’s bodies were already burned.. Some claim to have found the body of a live dog, identified as Mia, while others say she eventually died due to the severity of her injuries. This part of the story is still confusing.
According to the authorities’ initial versions, the driver was Andrés Felipe Euse Guzmán. He was a customer service employee at Cafam in Bogota, Well, a card with this identity was found, but in such accidents, all these need to be determined after the relevant investigations.
His wife’s identity has been revealed Lizeth Katherine Hoyos Barragán, 31, an international business and finance executive, graduated from the Military University of Bogotá in 2015. She had a nine-year-old son. He says on his social networks that he works at Scotiabank Colpatria bank.
The emergency had the support of Melgar Volunteer Firefighters. Following the disaster, the Police and Traffic officials of the two municipalities invited citizens to celebrate to take preventive measures, not to drink and drive and to avoid excessive speed. “Caring for children and people with disabilities is also very important.”
John Morales, fire commander of Carmen de Apicalá, “The bodies were burned, they were in the front seats of a Mazda car. The victims were a couple from Bogotá who came to spend the end of the year in this tourist area,” he said.
A preliminary report from the fire department indicates that special tools had to be used to remove and remove the bodies. Additionally, the police intervened to investigate the causes of the fire when the Mazda CX 60 rolled into the stream bed.
Relatives of the couple soon contacted local authorities to have the bodies transported to the city of Bogotá. Of course, we have to wait for the investigations to progress. According to the EL TIEMPO Investigation Unit’s alert, the car with plate number NIV707 was in the name of Euse Guzmán and had active insurance. In the official records of the accident, it is stated that it was on Sunday, December 31st at 23.15.
For the families of the victims, the drama is just beginning, because in the midst of the deep pain you feel for the loss of your young people, They want the body to be sent to Bogota, not to Neiva, where it will be examined.
Because they were cremated, they could only be identified through a dental letter or DNA, and those procedures took several days, authorities said.
The Cafam compensation fund, where both victims worked, expressed its deep sorrow: “We are deeply saddened by the death of our collaborator and his wife. We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of his collaborator and colleague Andrés Felipe Euse Guzmán (41 years old) and his wife Lizeth, 31 years old Katherine Hoyos Barragán passed away on the night of December 31.”
An emotional video with several photos of Lizeth Katherine was published via social networks. Edited by his cousin Ximena Barragán. Bring out moments like birthdays and family visits. “I am weak. I will miss you so much, I will treasure the moments we spent together, you were more my sister than my cousin, I will always remember you with your smile, for being unconditionally for me, I know the void you left in me. I already know that “You are in heaven just another little angel. May God restore you to his glory.”
Cafam’s managers added that the entire work team highlights the commitment, effort, responsibility and sense of belonging that has always characterized their collaborator Andrés Felipe, head of the Commitment department.
Likewise, they remember Lizeth Katherine, who worked at Cafam a few years ago and was associated with an organization in the financial sector.
The company reiterated its deep sadness and solidarity with the relatives of the young couple. “This loss is very unfortunate.” The end of the year was marked by traffic accidents that left the country in mourning.
The incident that had the biggest impact was last week when a tanker truck crashed and subsequently caught fire in the Quebrada Blanca tunnel in Guayabetal, Cundinamarca; It protects the road to Llano with special operations and some closures. The truck driver, who was seriously injured, died.
Also on the Llano road, an accident involving another vehicle was recorded in the Boquerón tunnel on 31 December. “Category 1 vehicle, apparently without brakes, crashed into the tunnel wall. Authorities and personnel involved in the situation,” they said from the Coviandina dealership. It is hoped that there will be no more tragedies next Eid.
CAROL MALAVER
BOGOTÁ FROM THE EDITOR
Write to us at [email protected]
Source: Exame
