Community mourns Spanish Fork family of 3 killed in car accident in Mexico

SPANISH FORK — A family of three from Spanish Fork was killed in a car accident while visiting relatives in Mexico. They have left behind family and a community who are in mourning this holiday season.

Laura and Juan Aguado and their 15-year-old daughter Jaqueline, a student at American Leadership Academy, were driving on the Morelia-Salamanca Highway toward Leon, Mexico, when the accident occurred on Dec. 21. The accident took the lives of six members of the Aguado family, three of whom were living in Mexico. They were together to celebrate the holidays.

"Jaqueline, Laura and Juan were in Mexico visiting family, and they were driving together to deliver their horse to a place where it would be stored," said Billie Vazquez, Laura Aguado's mother. "They were going to stay at Juan's brother Humberto's house because he lived near the airport, and they were going to be flying home to Utah the next morning."

Vazquez said the six family members were in a truck that was pulling a trailer with the horse when a car came from behind and tried to pass them on the highway. The car ended up clipping the back of the trailer, causing the truck to swerve and end up in an embankment. At the time, a semi-truck was headed toward the family and ended up hitting the family head-on and pinning the truck between the semi and a tree.

The horse was also killed in the accident, Vazquez said.

Vazquez, who was able to travel to Mexico following the accident, expressed what a heartbreaking time this has been for her family. She described her daughter, 30, her son-in-law, 35, and granddaughter as a loving family.

"Laura was just so full of life, and so was Jaqueline," she said. "Jaqueline loved to cheer, and was such a good student with so many friends. She really was her parents' whole life."

Jaqueline "Jackie" Aguado was a sophomore and had many friends as a cheerleader at the school. Many of the students and faculty from American Leadership Academy held a candlelight vigil at the school Monday night to remember their classmate.

Vazquez expressed the deep sadness that the family is experiencing and she asked for thoughts and prayers to be offered on their behalf. She said she was able to bring her daughter's and granddaughter's ashes home with her, and noted that there will be a celebration of life held on New Year's Day at the Opera House in Moroni, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A GoFundMe* fundraiser, as well as one at Utah Heritage Credit Union in Sanpete County under Billie Vazquez Family Donation, or Venmo @billie-Vazquez, have been set up to help ease the financial burden for the family.

*Disclaimer: KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit or donation you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

Correction: A previous version said the celebration of life will take place in Manti.

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