Juan Manuel Rojasa 19-year-old young man from Huila, died in the last few hours as a result of a serious traffic accident in Melbourne (Australia), where he had settled a year ago with the aim of “fulfilling his dreams,” according to his family.
(You can read: The clues behind the mysterious death of a Colombian in Canada: this was the painful search).
According to the report by '7 News', a mass media in Australia, the accident occurred in the early hours of this Sunday, at the intersection of Coburns Rd and Western Freeway, in Melton, about 47 kilometers from Melbourne's financial district. However, Juan Manuel's family has reports that the event had occurred hours before.
“We understand that the accident occurred on Saturday night. He had slept that day and, late in the afternoon, he decided to go out to do the Uber service and we never heard from him again. The last connection on WhatsApp was at 7 :40 pm”comments Marcela Rojas, sister of Juan Manuel, in a conversation with EL TIEMPO.
Regarding the details of the accident, the woman says that His brother was on board a small motorcycle, in which he provided transportation service, when unfortunately he collided head-on with a truck at an intersection.
“The accident was against a van, which was being driven by an 18-year-old boy. He, the boy, had a restricted license, which in Australia indicates that he must be accompanied, and yes, he was accompanied, but it is still a matter of investigation. investigation who did not give way,” he comments.
“My little brother was riding a motorcycle, the blow was from the front. According to what the coroner told us from Australia, Juan had a cervical fracture. The motorcycle was embedded, the death was sudden“adds Marcela Rojas.
(Also: Colombian dies in serious traffic accident while leaving a Novena in Australia).
The dreams of Juan Manuel Rojas
The young man had arrived in Melbourne a year ago.
Courtesy. Google Maps.
Juan Manuel, the youngest of four brothers, He had traveled to Australia on February 16, 2023 to study English. And, after several months away from his family, he decided to return to Colombia as a surprise for the recent New Year's Eve holidays.
“He went to Australia because another of our brothers, with whom Juan was living there, did so at the time. He came in December to visit my parents and made them very happy (…) Juan began this week to work in the construction company where our brother is there in Melbourne,” says Marcela Rojas.
The young man, who had graduated from high school in 2021 at the Gimnasio Humanístico del Alto Magdalena, in Neiva, had the purpose of improving his English and growing fully in Australia.
“Juan arrived there and my brother assumed all his debts. Now he was left with that financial responsibility and everything has been very hard. It has been a true tragedy no matter how you look at it.“says his sister.
(Keep reading: She was Ivonne Rubio, the young Colombian who was murdered by Hamas in Israel).
'We want to have him here as soon as possible'
Marcela Rojas, sister of Juan Manuel Rojas.
Regarding what is coming now, Rojas explains that they are raising funds to repatriate the body as soon as possible.
“My child has not had an autopsy yet. The appointment for the examination was given to my brother for next Thursday and, in the meantime, we are looking for help to raise funds. Funeral expenses cost around 16 thousand dollars. In addition to administrative expenses…“he specifies.
Questioned about any contact with the consular office in the area, Marcela Rojas indicates that the anxiety of starting the process is that the repatriation will take a long time.
“We can't wait, the grief of not having the body is super complicated, we want to have it here as soon as possible,” he points out.
The family of Juan Manuel Rojas enabled Bancolombia savings account no. 076-434276-42, in the name of Marcela Rojas, to receive aid.
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