‘He Had A Return Ticket For December’: Young Venezuelan Traffic Victim’s Family Look For Answers After Tragedy
The sudden and shocking death of young Venezuelan Jesús David Reina Quero in a traffic accident shined a spotlight on the perilous situation on Malta’s roads – and back home, his family are still coming to terms with what happened across the globe to their beloved.
Speaking to Lovin Malta, one family member opened up about the young man’s endearing personality and beautiful life that was cut short by the devastating traffic accident in Marsa.
“Jesús was a jovial, decent, kind, healthy and a hopeful boy who has been a victim of the misfortune of life,” the relative tragically told Lovin Malta.
Jesús was run over while crossing the road on Triq Diċembru Tlettax after he had just gotten off a bus. He was hit by a Mercedes Benz C250 that was being driven by a 66-year-old man from Fgura at around 2:10pm.
Jesús is one of 22 traffic fatalities on the island in the past 10 months, a number that has not yet been addressed by Malta’s government.
“What has happened is terrible and the pain has only grown deeper with distance. A good human being has lost his life.”
“His father is in the USA and his mother is recovering from an operation in Caracas, Venezuela.”
Jesús’ family went on to say that the young man had a flight booked back to Venezuela in early December to reunite with his family, with family not having seen him in three years.
Initially, Jesús moved to Malta to study but, due to the pandemic, decided to stay to work.
“He was a good boy. He had a return ticket booked for December 10th. This is extremely unfortunate, hopefully events like these don’t continue to tear apart the lives of young people full of hope.”
The family brought up a funding campaign organised by Jesús’ parents, friends and fiancée to repatriate his body back to Venezuela. The campaign has made over €6,490 out of its €8,000 goal, with an outpouring of sympathy following the tragedy.
The relative ended her tear-jerking message by urging for justice, something she said does not exist in her country.
Jesús was known by those close to him as “El Chivo Panadero” due to his talent as a baker, pastry chef and chocolatier who lived with a serious love for food.
Friends of Jesús waited over 18 hours after the accident happened for the man’s identity to be confirmed – despite them going to the hospital and speculating that the unidentified traffic victim was him.
His fiancée even said that everything she feared was confirmed when she read a police statement and noticed one of his shoes from a featured photo.
Over the last four days alone, four people have died from traffic accidents across Malta’s streets.
Lovin Malta extends its deepest condolences to the victim’s friends and family
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