Chihuahua Educators Killed in Cancún Car Crash

Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua — The state of Chihuahua, and in particular the educational community of Cuauhtémoc, is in mourning following the deaths of educator Martha Elena Ochoa Téllez, head of Sector 6 of Preschool Education, and retired professor Agustín Simental Terrazas, both considered pillars of local education.

The couple lost their lives alongside their son, Francisco Gabriel Simental Ochoa; their daughter-in-law, Erika Lizeth González Garza; and their two grandchildren, Francisco Gabriel and Dandará Simental González, aged just two years and two months respectively, in a tragic traffic accident on the morning of September 16 on Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard in Cancún, Quintana Roo. Their other son, Agustín Simental Ochoa, who did not accompany the family on the trip they made to attend a wedding, is the sole survivor.

The news has generated reactions on social media, in schools, in union spaces, and among colleagues from different generations, all of whom lament the loss.

Outpouring of Grief and Condolences

Mirna Milán, a close friend of the teacher, expressed her profound sadness: “Today I woke up with immense sadness. Your departure, that of your husband, son, daughter-in-law, and two little grandchildren, pains me so much. Our town is in mourning, because of an irresponsible driver who ended so many lives and dreams. Rest in peace, my beautiful cousin (by choice) Marthita, as we affectionately called Martha Elena Ochoa Téllez. May God have you in his holy glory. A solidary hug to my Ochoa Téllez, Ochoa Milán family.”

The Simental Ochoa family is recognized not only within the educational field but also for their participation in social and community spaces. Martha Ochoa served as president of the Nueva Alianza party in the municipality of Cuauhtémoc, was a councilor for the Municipal Committee for Social Participation, and an active member of the Municipal Security Roundtable.

Various school communities at the preschool level, union authorities, and state educational structures lamented the events and expressed messages of solidarity to relatives, friends, and colleagues.

Martha Alicia Téllez López, a first cousin of Simental Terrazas, stated: “We join in the grief that overwhelms us. My most sincere condolences to my nephew Agustín Simental Ochoa and to my dear Ochoa Téllez cousins for the sad loss of their beloved parents, brother, and the rest of the family. There are no words to express such a great loss.”

Official Statements from Educators' Unions

The Executive Committee of Section 8 of the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (SNTE) expressed its sorrow over the deaths. The general secretary of Section 8, Eduardo Antonio Zendejas Amparán, published a message of condolence on social media on behalf of the teaching body.

“With deep sorrow, we regret the sensitive passing of Teacher Martha Elena Ochoa Téllez, who performed with dedication and commitment as head of the preschool level sector. Her legacy in education and her affection for children will always remain in our memory. We express our most sincere condolences to her family, friends, and educational community, wishing them strength and solace in these moments of sadness. May she rest in peace,” the message stated.

The message added that Teacher Ochoa Téllez was a dedicated public servant whose work left a mark on the state educational system and on the formation of young children. It recognized that her passing constitutes an irreparable loss for those who knew and worked with her.

The union also reported establishing contact with the son, Agustín Simental Ochoa, in the city of Chihuahua, to provide the necessary support with corresponding procedures, including institutional insurance, certificates, official documentation, and any administrative management to facilitate this grieving process.

“As a union, whenever a colleague loses their life, we coordinate to form a commission that follows up on each pertinent procedure, to accompany the relatives and expedite what is necessary in these difficult moments,” they affirmed.

They highlighted that the teacher’s husband was also part of the teaching body, assigned to SNTE Section 42, and that this section is already cooperating in support actions for the surviving son.

The Executive Committee of Section 42 of the SNTE manifested its sorrow over the death of the educators and their family, recognizing their commitment to education in the state. Through a statement, General Secretary Manuel Quiroz Carbajal expressed his condolences on behalf of the union, highlighting the trajectory of Professor Simental Terrazas as a retired teacher and the work of Teacher Ochoa Téllez as head of Preschool Sector 6.

“We wish for prompt resignation in the face of this irreparable loss. We extend our solidarity to the entire teaching community that shared years of service and commitment with them,” expressed the leadership of Section 42.

Tributes from Schools and Community

Authorities from several kindergartens in Sector 6 expressed their pain, respect, and solidarity in the face of the irreparable loss of a figure who, for years, represented leadership, closeness, and commitment to early childhood education.

The "Jean Piaget" Kindergarten shared an institutional message in which it deeply lamented her passing. They highlighted the professionalism of Teacher Ochoa Téllez and the indelible mark she left on the preschool level. “Without a doubt, we will miss her very much. We ask the Creator to receive her in his kingdom and grant her family strength in the face of this immense pain,” they expressed.

Similarly, the "Paulo Freire" Kindergarten joined the mourning, expressing its sorrow over the passing of the educator and recognizing her valuable trajectory within the state educational system and her vocation of service over more than four decades.

The community of the "Teporaca" Kindergarten, also located in Cuauhtémoc, issued an emotional message remembering the teacher as a figure close to the teaching staff and a reference for preschool education.

“The community of the Teporaca Kindergarten deeply regrets the passing of Professor Martha Elena Ochoa Téllez. We send a hug to her family and friends who are facing this difficult moment,” they wrote.

Furthermore, they highlighted her constant accompaniment and motivation: “This school year will not be the same without you, dear Teacher Marthita. We are grateful for the time we were able to share with you. Always in our heart.”

Each of the messages coincided in highlighting the legacy that Professor Ochoa Téllez leaves not only in the educational field but also in the hearts of those who had the opportunity to know and work alongside her. Her absence, they expressed, will be felt daily in the classrooms, in teacher training spaces, and in every meeting of the educational sector that she led for so many years with dedication and conviction.

Details of the Accident and Aftermath

According to information from the Quintana Roo authorities, the family was heading to the airport after having attended a wedding over the weekend when the van in which they were traveling was hit head-on by another vehicle that lost control, allegedly due to road conditions.

The impact left seven people dead, including Jairo Emmanuel Estrella Borges, the driver of the rented transport unit. Initial investigations indicate that a Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck, traveling in the opposite direction, overturned after losing control and invaded the oncoming lane, hitting head-on the white Toyota Avanza in which the family was traveling.

Following the events, local authorities and those from the state of Chihuahua reported that they established communication with instances in Cancún to coordinate the transfer of the bodies.

Through an official message disseminated on its social media, the Servicios Educativos del Estado de Chihuahua (SEECH) lamented the death of the teacher. In its message, it highlighted that Teacher Ochoa Téllez was “a fundamental pillar in the strengthening of preschool education in the state of Chihuahua.”

“Her vocation, commitment, and dedication were key elements for the development of education in her community, leaving an indelible mark on the children, parents, and colleagues who had the privilege of working by her side,” indicated the educational institution.

It also expressed its most sincere condolences to relatives, friends, and the educational community of Cuauhtémoc, recognizing the professional and human trajectory of the teacher, as well as the impact of her work in the academic field of the preschool level.

“We wish that her loved ones soon find consolation and resignation in the face of this irreparable loss. May she rest in peace,” concluded the official statement.

According to educational authorities, funeral services and posthumous tributes will be organized once the corresponding procedures with the Quintana Roo Attorney General's Office and the Forensic Medical Service are completed.

The Centro de Liderazgo y Desarrollo Humano A.C. (Celiderh) joined the multiple expressions of mourning for the death, highlighting her active participation in the Diplomado en Alta Dirección Escolar, held in Cuauhtémoc. Through a message, Celiderh remembered Teacher Ochoa Téllez as an enthusiastic, kind woman with a joy that marked those who knew her. “She leaves an indelible mark on her colleagues and conference speakers,” expressed the civil association.

The Council and work team of Celiderh also deeply lamented the loss of her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and her two grandchildren. “We elevate our prayers for the eternal rest of all of them and express our most sincere condolences to their relatives and friends. May they rest in peace,” indicated the message issued by the organization.

Biographies: A Life Dedicated to Education

Professor Martha Elena Ochoa Téllez was born on October 13, 1962, in the sindicatura of Costa Rica, in the state of Sinaloa. From a young age, she showed great human sensitivity and a natural vocation for service and education, values that marked her entire life.

She began her professional training in 1978 upon entering the Escuela Normal de Sinaloa, where she graduated as a Professor of Primary Education in 1982. That same year, she began her teaching work, initially in her home state and later in Chihuahua, serving in various kindergartens and school centers.

Convinced of the importance of continuous training, she complemented her preparation with high-level studies. She held a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from the Escuela Normal Superior “Porfirio Parra,” a Bachelor's degree in Preschool Education from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, a Master's degree in Educational Development from the Centro Chihuahuense de Estudios de Posgrado, a second Master's degree in Education from the Centro de Estudios Superiores de la UACJ, and in 2024 she completed a Doctorate in Education and Training by Competencies from the Centro de Posgrado y Capacitación Mundo Nuevo in Hidalgo del Parral.

During her trajectory of more than 42 years of service, she worked as a group teacher, technical pedagogical advisor, director, supervisor, and since 2005, as head of Sector 6 of Preschool Education in the Cuauhtémoc region, a position she held until her death.

She was a coordinator and designer of courses and workshops for teachers, administrators, and advisors; designer of the Manual of Functions for Preschool Education Advisory Staff; researcher in educational evaluation; and state representative on the national team of administrators for the educational reform process. She also received the Medal for Educational Merit awarded by the Congress of the State of Chihuahua.

Professor Agustín Simental Terrazas was a man deeply committed to education, his community, and above all, his family. A native of the state of Chihuahua, he dedicated a large part of his life to educational service within the state subsystem, leaving an indelible mark in all the spaces where he worked and on the people who had the fortune to know him.

During his teaching career, he actively participated in educational initiatives, school projects, and the strengthening of teaching work in his region. Like his wife, Professor Agustín Simental was also part of the teaching body, affiliated with SNTE Section 42, where he was recognized for his trajectory, professional ethics, and his role as a trainer of new generations.

Both shared not only their family life but also a joint vocation to educate, serve, and leave a mark.