Exactly one week before his wedding day a groom was killed while heading north to pick up his tuxedo. Tonight instead of preparing to say "I do" the bride Lydia Castillo is preparing to bury her husband. The victim Daniel Castillo was heading to Chetumal in his white Isuzu Rodeo on Saturday afternoon along with two visiting friends to pick up his tux. But Daniel never made it to Chetumal because between miles 66 and 67 on the Northern Highway the rear axle on his rodeo snapped flipping the SUV numerous times sending it careening off the road and into a cane field. It is believed Daniel died on impact while his other two passengers survived. A passerby transported the victims to the Corozal Town Hospital.
The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon but because of the nationwide communication blackout it wasn't until 12 hours later that his wife, now turn widow, Lydia Castillo learnt of the tragedy. She says she held a bridal shower Saturday night not knowing her husband was dead, again because there was no phone service.
Lydia Castillo, Widow
"He was going to Chetumal to get his tuxedo. He had already paid for it, it was just to go and pick it up and he didn't make it. He has some family in Chetumal and he was going to see his aunt too and he didn't make it. It happened about 3 Saturday afternoon and I didn't find out until 3 o'clock Sunday morning. They had a bridal shower for me Saturday night and I didn't know my husband was already dead. We were already married but we got married in court so we were going to have a big wedding this Saturday. We have everything prepared just waiting for the day and now I have to go to a funeral. I don't think that they could have done anything for him but his two friends that were with him, one of them is in critical condition and the doctor said that he has a swelling in his brain and they said that if they had gotten to the hospital earlier then they could have done something more. Its very hard because his friends just came on Friday from the States and now this is how they are going to spend their holiday."
The family says because of the communication blackout they are still unable to notify all of Daniel's friends of his death. His two passengers, one of who remains hospitalized tonight, were visiting from the U.S. Daniel's wedding was scheduled for this Saturday. His funeral is now scheduled for Wednesday. The couple were married in a civil ceremony back in February of 2000. Saturday's ceremony was to renew those vows in front of family and friends.