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Latina trapped in Mexican restaurant bread machine in U.S. dies

Vicky Lopez worked in a Mexican restaurant in North Carolina

May 5, 2022 2:14pm

Updated: May 5, 2022 6:25pm

A worker at a Mexican restaurant in Selma, North Carolina, died on Tuesday after her arm was trapped in an industrial bread machine for nearly 90 minutes.

The woman was identified as Vicky Lopez, 44. She died after being rushed by helicopter to Duke University Hospital but succumbed to her injuries, according to a spokeswoman for the Division of Occupational Health and Safety.

Selma Fire Chief Phillip McDaniel said rescuers needed "little tools" to execute the "tedious rescue" that freed Lopez, according to WRAL.

Police authorities reported that an investigation would be carried out as the industrial machine was still running while Lopez attempted to clean it.

Her daughter, Miriam Amado López, wrote some emotional words on Facebook dedicated to her mother: "My mom is the best mother a girl could have. She taught me resilience, the importance of hard work and showed me what true love feels like. From a very young age, my mom didn't have the easiest life. She started working at a young age to help support her family and eventually decided to travel hundreds of thousands of miles to try to give her family a better chance at a good life."

"Mommy, I love you forever. And I will never forget everything you taught me and the values you gave. I'm sorry your life had to end like this. You didn't deserve it," concludes Amado Lopez's tribute.

The community gathered to help Lopez's family cope with the loss. A GoFundMe was created to raise $5,000, but the page surpassed the amount.

The creator of the GoFudMe, Gerardo Rodriguez, wrote: "Donations will go to the Amado family, so they can use it as needed for the loss of Mrs. Lopez, who gained her wings today due to an accident at her workplace. She was a very dear person to the community."

Amado Lopez thanked the community for their great contribution. "Proceeds will go towards funeral expenses and any other costs related to my mother's arrangements. Thank you all for your support. I have always said and believed that the community is so important and vital, and I have never been more grateful than I am now," she wrot

Fast-File Reporter

Marielbis Rojas

Marielbis Rojas is a Venezuelan journalist and communications professional with a degree in Social Communication from UCAB. She is a news reporter for ADN America.