In the early morning hours of Monday, April 21, 2025, a traffic accident on North 78th Street under the Selmon Crosstown Expressway in Tampa, Florida, claimed the life of Emilio Alfaro-Herrera, a 54-year-old Salvadoran national who was a passenger in a van driven by Maria Elena Menjívar, 51, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the scene around 2:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 call alerting them to a vehicle on fire after impacting the center median. Upon arrival, authorities confirmed that Emilio Alfaro-Herrera had died at the scene due to the severity of the impact. Hours later, Menjívar was arrested and faces DUI manslaughter charges. The sheriff’s office released an official photograph of the defendant following her arrest.
A shattered family
Buzzy
The loss of Emilio Alfaro-Herrera has left an irreplaceable void among his loved ones, especially for his daughter, Ana Alfaro.
Ana started a campaign to raise funds to repatriate her father’s body to her native El Salvador.
The objective: that he may be buried in his land, surrounded by his family.
“Hello, my name is Ana Alfaro. I am raising funds to be able to send my father’s body to El Salvador, his native country”.
“He suffered a traffic accident that caused his death.”
“As many who knew him know he was a very good person, kind and always willing to support his entire family.”
“All of us are devastated by the loss of a great father, friend and brother.”
“In advance many thanks to the people who support us and send their donations. Blessings to all.
Ana has created a GoFundMe page where she is asking for support from the Hispanic community in the United States.
The fundraiser seeks to cover the costs of the transfer, funeral service and other costs associated with the repatriation process, which can exceed $10,000 dollars.
Community impact
The case has generated consternation among the Latino community in Tampa and in social networks, where messages of condolences and solidarity have been spread.
At the same time, community organizations have reiterated the importance of raising awareness about the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Menjívar was arrested and faces charges of DUI manslaughter
QueOnnda.com
This tragic incident in which Emilio Alfaro-Herrera lost his life adds to an alarming statistic:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), crashes involving drunk drivers continue to be one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities in the United States.
This disproportionately affects vulnerable communities such as Latino immigrants.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
