Victim in Mexico Car Crash Dies; Family Claimed Aid Was Delayed
An American left paralyzed after a traffic accident in Mexico with a Baja California human rights official died Monday of his injuries.
Donald Kraft, 44, an unemployed truck driver from Valley Center, was in a collision two weeks ago with Antonio Garcia Sanchez on a toll road near Ensenada.
Kraft’s family alleged that Garcia demanded a bribe before he would permit Kraft to be airlifted to a San Diego hospital.
The family had to pay $7,000 in fines and medical transport costs before he could be brought to Mercy Hospital 18 hours after the accident in which his neck was broken.
Garcia, backed by Mexican authorities, has denied the Kraft family’s allegations and said that officials were only following Mexican law involving traffic accidents.
Rep. Brian P. Bilbray (R-San Diego) has demanded an investigation.
Kraft was on a vacation with his wife and three sons when the crash occurred.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
