Grieving and in pain, the families and friends of Miguel Ángel Rojas Vázquez and Yoel Sánchez, who tragically lost their lives in a traffic accident in Suriname last week, are appealing for financial support to repatriate their remains to Cuba.
Rojas, who hailed from Holguín and was married with a daughter just over a year old, and Sánchez, a father of several children from Santiago de Cuba, died following a multi-vehicle crash in Paramaribo on a Saturday morning. They were on an electric motorcycle when they were struck by a car whose driver made a reckless overtaking maneuver.
As a result of the collision, Sánchez died instantly due to his injuries, while Rojas was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries later. Rojas's family is striving to collect the necessary funds to return his body to Cuba for a final farewell, while Sánchez's ashes will be sent back to the island, according to those close to the families.
Fundraising Efforts for Repatriation
Segundo Leyva, who is organizing the fundraising effort, stated on GoFundMe, “I am creating this account to gather funds to bring back the body of our brother Miguel Ángel Rojas Vázquez, known as Miguelito, the son of Doralis, who passed away today in a traffic accident in the Republic of Suriname. His family and friends would like to bid him a final farewell. Please contribute whatever you can; we will be eternally grateful.” The goal is to raise $8,000.
Rojas had moved to Suriname in February of this year. His wife, Liannis Acosta Silva, has also requested support on social media to bring his body back to his homeland. “I told him every day how beautiful he looked, even though the exhaustion and fatigue showed on his face. I knew the sadness of being away from his loved ones consumed him. I tried to encourage him, soon we would be together, and he would no longer miss out on all the beautiful things our daughter learned. I just need to bring him back with me, please donate to fulfill his last wish. I beg of you,” she wrote.
Heartfelt Tributes and Appeals for Support
In another poignant Facebook post, the young widow reminisced that her husband would have celebrated his birthday on December 3rd. She shared that they had planned to reunite in Suriname, a meeting now prevented by the tragedy of his death. “Only days were left to be by his side again, to show him all the things I managed to teach our daughter,” she expressed. “Today is his birthday, and I am sure he would have celebrated it with the joy that characterized him, always with that beautiful smile that was infectious. He was charismatic and pleasant, loved by everyone wherever he went, a being of light, a special soul.”
The devastating accident has also plunged Sánchez's children and extended family into deep sorrow. “Dad, I love you so much wherever you are. Remember that I will finish what you once started so you can be proud of me. I love you with all my heart even though you were taken from my life, but you will always have a place in my heart, my king. Rest in peace,” wrote his son, Joelito Sánchez Brito, in response to a news article about the accident on CiberCuba.
On TikTok, a young Cuban known as Soy el Krizz, who resides in Suriname, urged support for the families of both victims. In a video, he explained that Sánchez’s brother, who also lives in Suriname, needs help to cover the costs of cremation and to send the ashes back to Cuba. He called on Cubans in the country to assist with the expenses for cremation and the transportation of the remains.
Messages of sorrow and condolences have been pouring in on social media from friends and acquaintances of Sánchez and Rojas, expressing their pain and supporting the bereaved families.
Understanding the Tragic Accident in Suriname
How did the accident in Suriname occur?
The accident happened when Miguel Ángel Rojas Vázquez and Yoel Sánchez, riding an electric motorcycle, were hit by a car whose driver performed a reckless overtaking maneuver in Paramaribo.
What are the families of the victims asking for?
The families are seeking financial assistance to repatriate the remains of the deceased to Cuba. Rojas’s family needs funds to bring his body back, while Sánchez’s family requires help for cremation and sending the ashes to the island.