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Who was Yesenia Cardona? Woman, 23, dies in mom's arms as California SUV crash kills 13 in illegal border crossing

Yesenia and her mother were attempting to cross the border seeking 'a better life' in US, according to a family member

Yesenia Cardona is one among 13 people who tragically died in a horrific car crash in California, her family has revealed. The 23-year-old Yesenia and her mother Berlin were among 44 people who were attempting to illegally cross the US-Mexico border when the Ford Expedition they were in crashed into a truck. So far, 13 people have been declared dead and another eight are in hospital. 

Yesenia and her mother were attempting to enter the US seeking "a better life", according to her uncle Rudy Dominguez. The deadly crash is still under investigation after it was found that the Ford was modified so as to fit more than two dozen people. Berlin has reportedly survived the crash, while Yesenia died in her mother's arms.

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Who is Yesenia Cardona?

According to reports, Cardona is from Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa, a small town in Guatemala. According to her Facebook profile, she studied at Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, the largest and oldest university in the country. She enrolled in 2018 where she was studying to become a lawyer. 

Cardona's best friend Rubenia Corés described her as a "friendly person" and "very charismatic" in an interview with Univision. Yesenia reportedly worked at a finance company, but the family began to struggle financially when the pandemic hit.

She decided to move to the US seeking a better future, according to Corés. In an interview with NBC Palm Springs, Rudy said, "I don’t get it. She was a sweet girl who was full of life and with purpose. She went to college and had a job, she didn’t deserve this.” Rudy was the first from the family to leave Guatemala for the US, 16 years ago.

Then, Yesenia's father Maynor Melendrez did so a year later. In February, Yesenia decided to follow in their footsteps. She and her mother left on February 2 and last contacted their family when they reached Mexicali, the Mexican city bordering Calexico.

Yesenia reportedly loved football with several images being shared on social media of her playing the sport. Her body is now being sent back to Chiquimulilla where her friends and family are organizing a memorial. A GoFundMe page has been set up by Jacqueline Navarro to help pay for the repatriation of Yesenia's body. Over 80 donors have so far raised $5,488 of the $15,000 target. 

Friends, family and strangers mourn Yesenia

The shocking death of Yesenia has caught many of her friends and family by surprise. Her uncle said, "If I could talk to her now, I would beg her not to go. Those would be my words: Don’t go!". A friend posted on Facebook, "Still can't believe it chata fly high, someday we'll see each other again and be able to enjoy that unconditional friendship that always gave me". 

Even those who don't know Yesenia have taken to social media to grieve for her. "My condolences to the family of Yesenia Cardona. Rest in peace. May God have her in his glory," one user posted on Facebook. 'May God help and give strength to all the sick family" another posted. One person tweeted, "RIP Yesenia Cardona and God heal her mother."