A tragedy has befallen the Jewish community of Mexico. A young bride-to-be, 17, was R”L killed in a vehicular accident a few months before she was to be married. Other family members were injured as well.

This story began last Thursday, during the morning hours. The Or-Palei family, which is a backbone of the local Jewish community, headed out during the morning hours for San Antonio, planning to shop for the big simcha, the upcoming chasnah of Ruth, their 17-year-old daughter A”H. Weather conditions were difficult, and the trip was expected to take a full day. They were compelled to stop a number of times as a result of the inclement weather, which included heavy fog.

On Friday morning at 8:00am, as they were approaching their destination, their vehicle struck an object on the road. The father, who was driving, tried to gain control of the vehicle, but instead their vehicle plummeted four meters down into the ravine.

Rescue workers report the vehicle overturned numerous times and as a result, all of the occupants of the vehicle, three brothers, two daughters and the parents sustained injuries. Ruth was the most seriously injured and she was flown in a helicopter to a nearby emergency room. The doctors were unable to save the young kallah’s life, and she was pronounced dead about eight weeks ahead of the wedding.

Despite a police request for an autopsy, a post mortem was not conducted following the intervention of community askanim. Ruth’s levaya was held on Sunday, 29 Kislev in Mexico.

The nifteres’ mother, who was seriously injured, was accompanied by a medical team, enabling her to attend the funeral, albeit supine on a bed and connected to intravenous lines. The other family members were also there, each recuperating from their injuries sustained in the accident.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)