IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The Mexico Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday afternoon they will be providing assistance to the families of the victims involved in a two-vehicle crash in Idaho Falls.
According to a news release, all 15 victims inside the van are Mexican citizens working in the United States under the H2A visa program. Idaho State Police (ISP) said 16 people were injured in the crash when the lone driver of a Dodge Ram pickup truck crashed head-on with the Chevrolet Express passenger van.
The Mexico government said all 15 were agricultural workers and they were traveling to their jobs in the van. Six of them died, and nine others were injured. Seven of the injured workers remain in the hospital for their injuries, and two have been discharged.
Officials at the Mexico Consulate in Boise reached out to the state of Idaho to identify those involved, and their identities were confirmed by Idaho State Police.
The Bonneville County coroner identified the six victims as 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.
Mexico officials stated they reached out to Sigmet Farms Services, who employed the workers, and lawyers to provide "corresponding advice and support." They continued that the state government has been notified of steps that may be required. They will later follow up with state officials on the transfer of the deceased back to Mexico.
"The Government of Mexico reiterates that the protection of Mexican people abroad is a priority in its foreign policy, especially those who face vulnerable situations such as H2A agricultural workers in the United States of America. The legal and diplomatic tools will be analyzed to guarantee full respect and defense of their human and labor rights, seeking to reinforce the legal framework that regulates their living and working conditions, so that incidents of this nature are fully investigated, and that they are assign the corresponding responsibilities and penalties," the Mexico government stated.
According to ISP, the crash happened at approximately 5:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18. Police said the driver of the Dodge Ram pickup was driving eastbound on US-20 near Lindsay Boulevard, veered left of the highway center and collided with a van.
Among those pronounced dead at the scene were the van's driver and five of its passengers. The condition of the driver of the Dodge Ram is unknown.
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