The San Antonio community has been struck by tragedy after the death of a local five-year-old boy, Zachary Reyna, who was killed in a car crash in Mexico on August 4. Left grappling with the heartbreaking task of repatriation, Zachary's bereaved family is now struggling with the logistics and cost to bring his remains home. According to reports from KENS5, the tragic accident occurred when the car carrying Zachary, his brother, and their grandparents collided with an 18-wheeler near Matehuala.
Zachary, who was set to begin kindergarten at Collier Elementary, was with his family returning from a church convention. His seven-year-old brother Malaki, also a student at Collier Elementary, miraculously survived the crash unharmed but was left to witness the aftermath. Julie Reyna, Zachary's mother, quickly mobilized to swiftly travel to Mexico upon learning of the crash. "She’s just broken," Jennifer Navarro, Zachary's aunt, told KEN5. The report detailed the intense emotional toll taken on Julie, who is also coping with the complex process of transporting her son's body back to the U.S.
The family's difficulties extend to navigating international procedures for repatriation of the remains. Lupe Camacho, Julie's employer and supporter, detailed the rigorous paperwork required, including translating Zachary's birth certificate and arranging DNA testing due to the condition of his remains post-accident. "Everything needs to be paid upfront," Camacho added, emphasizing the fiscal burden on Julie, a single mother of four surviving sons. In the endeavor to bring Zachary home, they've had to coordinate with funeral homes in both Monterrey and San Antonio while grappling with immediate upfront costs. The family has made arrangements with Mission Park Funeral Chapel and Cemeteries in San Antonio, where Zachary will be laid to rest in a section reserved for children known as Babyland.
Amid these trying times, the community has rallied behind the Reyna family. A BBQ Chicken Benefit was organized in San Antonio to raise funds, according to FOX San Antonio, and two GoFundMe pages have been established to help offset the financial strains. Additionally, Harlandale Independent School District, where Zachary was to attend school, released a statement conveying their deep sorrow and extending sympathies to his family through this unimaginable loss, as reported by KENS5.
