“I don’t want to die as a stranger,” victim asked to return his wallet to his family after the Iztapalapa explosion

Alberto Paredes, a non-commissioned officer from the Teotongo sector, revealed the last words of a victim who was caught in the fire from the overturned gas tanker under the Puente de la Concordia Bridge in the Iztapalapa municipality on September 10.

According to the Citizen Security Secretariat (SSC) officer, he was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the incident, where he saw a minibus caught in the fire and managed to spot a passenger trying to get out. Upon assisting him, he noticed the severe burns, which had caused wounds on his lips.

“It was a bus that was on fire. I think the fire had already reached the fuel tank, and it exploded. I kept running, and when I got to get the person out of the truck, I saw him completely burned, and he gave me his cell phone and wallet,” said Alberto Paredes.

He stated that with the help of a bystander, he managed to pull the completely burned man out of the truck. Furthermore, he kept his promise and handed the wallet and belongings to his family, who later confirmed that he had died, making him one of the nine people killed in the events that occurred on Calzada de Ignacio Zaragoza.