Relatives, friends, and members of the Cuban community in the United States are rallying to raise funds for the repatriation of Gianny Estévez García, a 25-year-old who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident in South Dakota on the early morning of September 18.
Estévez, who had been living in Fort Myers, Florida, since arriving in the U.S. two years ago, was involved in a fatal collision at around 12:46 a.m. last Wednesday. According to a report from the South Dakota Highway Patrol, he crashed the truck he was driving into another truck 34 miles northwest of Philip in Haakon County.
Accident Details
The report indicated that José Antonio Pérez Martínez, 59, from Humble, Texas, was the driver of a 2001 Freightliner. He had parked in the travel lane with his emergency flashers on near mile marker 128 on SD Highway 34. Estévez, driving a 1996 Freightliner in the same direction, collided with the rear of Pérez's stationary vehicle.
Pérez, who was inside his truck's cab, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, Nolberto García Hernández, 51, from Odessa, Texas, who was outside the truck at the time, was unharmed. Despite wearing a seatbelt, Estévez suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.
Community Support
The sudden and tragic death of the young Cuban has deeply saddened his relatives, friends, and acquaintances. In response, his father-in-law, Leonel García, initiated a GoFundMe campaign four days ago to cover funeral expenses and the cost of sending Estévez's body back to Cuba.
“My friends, family, and everyone we know, I am faced with the sad task of saying goodbye to Gianny García, my son-in-law and a boy I’ve known since he was a child. I ask for your help to return an only son to his mother and father, who lost him in a tragic accident,” García expressed in his heartfelt plea.
“Let’s all bid farewell to this young man of just 25 years, who came to this country only two years ago in search of his dream,” he concluded.
Successful Fundraising Effort
The fundraising goal of $15,000 was surpassed thanks to the contributions of more than 260 donors, including friends, family, and other supporters. Their collective generosity will ensure that Estévez’s parents can bring their son home to Cuba for his final farewell.