Carolyn Salazar, a 22 year-old of Carmelita Village in the Orange Walk District, lost her life on the Eve of Independence Day. She was knocked down by a driver of a semi-trailer truck, while awaiting a bus to have an evening out with her aunt for the Independence Day festivities in Orange Walk Town.
Police say that at around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 20th, they were called to an area around mile 51 on the Philip Goldson Highway. When they arrived on the scene, they found Salazar lying lifeless in the middle of the highway, suffering from massive head and bodily injuries. What police have been able to establish so far is that Salazar was on the shoulder of highway when she was knocked down by a passing truck.
Salazar’s uncle, Juan Rodriguez, spoke with the press, and he shared insight into her last moments alive. What the family subsequently found out is in a text message communication with her aunt, Juan Rodriguez’s wife. They had plans to go to Orange Walk Town to enjoy festivities such as the midnight fireworks that were planned. After that, they would have a night out, which would end early the next morning after jourvet in that northern town.
Salazar reportedly crossed the road waiting for a bus that runs from Carmelita Village to Orange Walk and back on a special schedule for holidays like the eve of Independence Day. She, her husband and her brother-in-law were out on the roadside when they saw lights coming in the distance. They believed that this was the bus, and so she flagged it down. She later realized that it was not, and so she reportedly moved back to the shoulder of the road. Unfortunately, that was not enough, and the same truck she thought was the bus, hit her and flung her body into the highway itself. The impact was massive, and she died right where her body landed. The driver of the truck sped off, and didn’t even stop to render aid. Salazar’s family say that the cops currently have a truck in their custody at the Orange Walk Police Station, and the owner is being investigated to find out of if it was his truck that hit Salazar.
Rodriguez, her uncle, remembers her personality fondly, especially since her life ended so early.
He told the press, “We all loved her very much and she will be missed.”
Rodriguez leaves behind 2 young sons.
