Two sisters in deadly international bus accident

Laura Francisca Salas, age 74, and Maria de los Angeles Soto, age 61, were two inseparable sisters and mothers who tragically lost their lives in a deadly charter bus accident on an international highway in Mexico while en route to their homes in San Antonio, Texas.

 The Background

 Laura and Maria were the definition of inseparable. As the oldest of five siblings, Laura took responsibility and great care of her siblings throughout her entire life. Especially Maria, the youngest and the baby of the family, who she affectionately nicknamed Angie, a name nearly all her family knows her by today. Maria practically viewed Laura as a mother figure because of this. As they both advanced in age, Maria was determined to support Laura with whatever she needed to repay all the love and care Laura had shown her.

 Born in Mexico and raised in Monterrey, Laura and Maria took great pride in their city and frequently shared its beauty and vibrancy with others. Even after moving to San Antonio, Texas, and gaining U.S. citizenship about 30 years ago, their love for Monterrey never waned. They visited whenever they could, despite financial constraints, at times bringing their children along to share their affection for the city.

 This trip was intended to be like many others. Laura and Maria traveled together by charter bus from San Antonio to Monterrey to visit family they hadn't seen in a while and to enjoy their hometown again. They left San Antonio on Saturday, August 31st, 2024. The journey to Mexico went smoothly, they arrived safely, spending a wonderful week with their siblings and family. After taking in all they could, they prepared to return home to their children and grandchildren. They planned to leave on Saturday night and arrive home on Sunday morning, September 8th, 2024.

 The Confusion

 Laura and Maria were expected to arrive home very early Sunday morning, around 3am. They were supposed to call their children for pickup upon arrival, but 3am came and went without a call. The same happened at 4am, 5am, 6am, all the way to 9am, no call. Their children, growing increasingly worried, began calling Laura and Maria’s phones, wondering if there was a delay, a change in bus, or even if they had decided to stay an extra day. Every call went straight to voicemail. In a panic and with no answers, their children contacted family in Monterrey for information. After a frantic search by both families in Monterrey and San Antonio, they discovered devastating news: A charter bus leaving Monterrey, headed to San Antonio, late Saturday night collided with a semi-truck on an international highway. The bus crashed into the back of the semi before being engulfed in flames, resulting in several injuries, missing individuals, and fatalities. Desperate for news about their mothers, the children of Laura and Maria and their family began calling hospitals, bus stations, law enforcement, anyone they could think of who might be able to help find their missing relatives. After receiving limited information, the children took a flight to Monterrey that Sunday night to seek answers.

 The Search

 Exhausted by the panic and the weight of their situation, the children of Laura and Maria spent Sunday night, September 8th, 2024, in Monterrey. They began their search early the next morning. They called anyone they could, drove to various locations, and did everything possible to find answers. After significant effort, they received some news: The injured individuals were identified and treated at hospitals near the accident site, but Laura and Maria were not among them. Those uninjured remained unaccounted for and were being searched for identification. The deceased remained unidentified due to severe burns.

 Concerned for their mothers, the children searched for more information. They were told that the unidentified bodies were transferred to a hospital in Monterrey. They immediately went to that hospital to try to identify their family members among the deceased, but were informed that the damage to the bodies was too severe for visual identification. They would have to wait for DNA tests to confirm whether their mothers were among the deceased.

Hoping their mothers were still out there somewhere, the children continued searching for the missing passengers. They regrouped with the rest of the family in Mexico to decide on their next steps. During this time, they received the heartbreaking news that all missing individuals had been found and accounted for. The only ones still unidentified were the deceased. As of today, September 13th, 2024, authorities have confirmed that Laura and Maria are among those who have died.

 The Loss

 Laura and Maria were beloved and cherished by everyone they met. They were always cheerful, always laughing, and always together. They were irreplaceable to so many people. Laura leaves behind her two children, Albert, age 47, and Marlene, age 44, along with several grandchildren and a great grandchild. They were constantly supportive, checking up on her and ensuring her everyday that she was loved. Maria leaves behind her only child, Anthony, age 24. Maria was the most important person in Anthony's life. After losing his father earlier this year on February 29th, 2024, Anthony and Maria had been preparing to support each other through their loss. Now, both Laura’s and Maria’s children are left to navigate the sudden and unfair loss of their beloved mothers.

 There are many questions and challenges ahead for the family: transporting the remains, understanding the circumstances of the accident, managing accounts and bills, making funeral arrangements, and organizing memorial services. Donations are crucial in helping the families face these challenges. The total costs are unknown, making every contribution a significant blessing. This tragedy has deeply affected our family, and we are all grieving immensely.

 Thank you for reading, thank you for your awareness, thank you for your love, and thank you for your support.