10 Band Members Die In Crash In Mexico

10 band members died and several more people were injured in a horrific auto accident early Saturday morning on a major highway between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey, Mexico. The members of La Reyna de Monterrey were in a van that was returning from a Friday night performance in Nuevo Laredo.

According to Mexican highway police official Julian Ontiveros, the van’s driver may have dozed off. When he lost control of the vehicle, he apparently entered the opposite lane and collided with an oncoming tractor-trailer.

Five of the injured were other band members, also in the van.

An official who was not authorized to speak for the record agreed that the driver had probably fallen asleep at the wheel. He added that the crash was so powerful that several of the band members had been flung out of the van onto the road.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the three lane highway was blocked off by the accident scene. Traffic was restricted to only one lane while the dead and injured were removed by ambulance.

As news of the 10 band members’ deaths spread, fans have visited La Reyna de Monterrey’s Facebook page to leave their condolences and their expressions of concern for the families and the surviving members of the popular group.

A rough translation of a typical comment said: “My most sincere condolences to family and friends. It is a great loss. God has called them to sing with His angels.”

The band’s final post was left from the road, as they departed the scene of the last performance at the Laguito Bar and Grill in Nuevo Laredo. They thanked all their fans and friends who came out for the show.

Sadly, only a short while later, 10 members of the band were dead.

A 2012 performance by Banda La Reyna De Monterrey:

[highway photo by Condor 36 via Shutterstock]