Mexican soccer player Diego Chávez killed in tragic car accident

The Liga MX is grieving the passing of famed soccer player Diego Chávez, also known as El Puma, who tragically lost his life in the small hours of Wednesday morning in a car accident.

Chávez, a 28-year-old midfielder for FC Juárez, reportedly lost his life when his red compact car collided with a pole at the intersection of Antonio J. Bermúdez streets and Vicente Guerrero Avenue in in Ciudad Juárez at about 1:00 a.m.

Initial reports suggest that excessive speed may have been a significant factor in the incident.

Due to the severe impact, Puma Chávez most likely died instantly at the scene, authorities said. Traffic personnel immediately secured the area, and later that day, transported the deceased body to Semefo.

A picture of a red car involved in a crash circulated on social media networks, with the occupants' whereabouts initially unknown. It was later confirmed that the person involved was 'Puma' Chávez, who was in his third Liga MX tournament with Bravos.

The State Prosecutor's Office of the Northern Zone of Chihuahua officially confirmed the death of the 28-year-old soccer player from Veracruz.

The famed soccer player made his athletic debut in August 2015 playing for Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz against Xolos de Tijuana. He also played for the Rayos del Necaxa and the Diablos Rojos de Toluca. His initial stint with FC Juárez was between 2016 and 2017.

During his short time with his current team, the Bravos, he scored two goals.

Carlos 'Titán' Salcedo, a former teammate of 'Puma' Chávez in FC Juárez's Bravos, was among the first footballers to react to the tragic news. He expressed condolences, saying, “A lot of strength for his entire family! I will always remember you with that joy,” in a post on his personal X account.

The Bravos released official information about the passing of the Mexican midfielder, accompanied by a heartfelt message that emphasized the player's humor and character during his time with the border team.

The statement expressed that they are “heartbroken” by the loss.

“Thank you, Puma, #13 will stay with us forever," FC Juárez wrote in a heartfelt message.

“During his time at FC Juárez, Puma was characterized by its joy, enthusiasm, simplicity, and disposition, as well as its spirit of dedication and love for our colors. Our players, staff, coaching staff, management, and all of us who make up this institution, feel heartbroken by this unfortunate news, because more than a player, today we have to say goodbye to a member of our great family.”

Every 24 seconds, a person loses their life in a road accident, totaling 1.35 million fatalities annually across the globe, according to a 2021 report published by the United Nations in conjunction with the Sustainable Transport Conference.

Worldwide, more than 500 children under 18 years old perish in road incidents daily, the report says. Road traffic injuries currently stand as the primary cause of death for individuals aged 15 to 29 years.