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A Mother Sacrifices Her Life For Her Children
Thu, July 2, 2015
Also from Cayo, a mother sacrificed her life for her kids. 38 year-old Myra Carbajal, a resident of Santa Elena had just come out of a meeting at her church last night when a vehicle broke down the iron gate and slammed into her in the church compound. Carbajal was standing by the entrance of the church and the vehicle pinned her against the church. Seeing the vehicle coming towards her she grabbed onto and covered about 5 kids who were near the door. It's a story of both heroism and sorrow, and our news team found out more today. Courtney Weatherburne spoke with the police and her family:

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
A small altar was placed on the living room table in the Carbajal's Santa Elena house this afternoon. This candle was burning in the memory of accident victim 38 year old Myra Carbajal.

Her pictures were placed on either side and the bible was open to the page with her favorite verse. While this altar displays may portray a peaceful scene, but in the background pain and agony overshadows.

Elaida Carbajal, Sister
"Yesterday I was at home in San Pedro and my cousin called me and she told me that Myra was in an accident. I ask her what had happened and she said that Myra was coming out of the church and a car hot her, but she didn't tell me anything else. Then she called me back and then she said Myra is dead, come quick. I told her that my sister cannot be dead, because I was just there a couple of days ago and I call and then they told me that the doctor said that she was dead already. I feel it a lot. She is my sister. I love her so much. My little niece and nephew also got hurt. We just have to be strong."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Could you tell us what you've heard? I don't think you were there at the church when it happened. But what are people telling you, those who were at the church what happened?"

Elaida Carbajal, Sister
"People were saying that she was coming out of the church, standing by the gate and when she saw a vehicle coming down, she held the kids that were there. So she put herself to save the kids and the car ran over her and that she had a bit cut wound on her stomach and a big hole on her leg and she was bleeding and the doctor couldn't stopped it."

"My sister was a loving person. I could come and talk to her about anything. She understands me and she would come and we were best friends. She was like a mother to me. She and I grew up together. Me and my brother came in last week for my niece graduation. When I arrived, we were having fun here celebrating. We were laughing and everything and a church came on and like how she goes to church, we went to lie in bed and we were singing the song and then she told me that one of these days she knows that she will go - to let me play that music for her. Last night when they told me the news, I couldn't explain it, I don't have words to say. I just remember that when we were in bed lying we were singing that song. It's hard."

Inspector Reymundo Reyes - Deputy OC, San Ignacio
"Information was that there was blue pickup parked in front of the gate of the church compound and the driver, after the services, went inside her vehicle and all of a sudden it is alleged that the vehicle moved off by itself, running into the gate and thereafter towards the church itself trapping a female between the building and the vehicle itself. So, the vehicle had to be removed so that the female could have been removed from between both the building and the vehicle. She sustained injuries on the left side of her hip. Immediately the person was rushed to the San Ignacio Town Hospital, but she died whilst undergoing treatment."

"Also, due to the fact that when the vehicle ran or moved off and knocked the gate completely off the fence itself - the gate ended up fallen on some kids and a lady. So there was another adult who sustained minor injuries and 4 other kids who are injured due to the fact that the gate fell on top of them."

"There are witnesses who were saying that the vehicle was parked face in front of the gate with the front portion facing the gate. So that is where the investigation is. We are still interviewing people and getting statements to establish what was the actual position of the vehicle before it moved of hitting the gate and then running into the direction where the persons were near the entrance of the church."

Courtney Weatherburne
"So you are saying that the vehicle turned into the church from that "9 to 4.1" sign?"

Voice of Eyewitness
"Exactly."

Courtney Weatherburne
"When you got there they had already taken the kids and the mother?"

Voice of Eyewitness
"They told me that the lady was bleeding. I saw all the blood. That kind of got me frightened and I wanted to stay, because I knew the people in the church. She (driver) told me that she sat in the vehicle and she didn't touch anything and the vehicle just spun off and went into the gate and caused the accidents. She is my friend, but I don't believe that could happen."

According to the driver of the vehicle - 37 year old Sharon Rojas - who is a fellow church sister. She didn't press the accelerator pedal or the clutch or anything for that matter and that the vehicle just sped off. And that is what is baffling the police, her family and the church community because the vehicle is a standard vehicle. Carbajal was the mother of 4 kids - a 5 year old, a 7 year old, a 10 year old and a 13 year old. When we got there this afternoon, the 10 year old daughter had just found out that her mother had been killed. The police say that the driver might be charged with manslaughter by negligence and other charges after the investigation has concluded.

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