Family remembers San Antonio sisters killed in bus crash in Mexico

SAN ANTONIO – Looking through old photos, the family of two San Antonio sisters said it was easy to see how much they loved each other.

“That was a long time ago,” Marlene Lyon said. “We are in disbelief.”

The family of Laura Salas and Maria Soto is mourning the loss of their loved ones. Almost a month has passed since the two were killed in a bus accident in Mexico.

The family will hold her funeral on Friday.

“It was hard,” said Lyon, Laura Salas’ daughter.

Laura and Maria left San Antonio on August 31st to visit family in Monterrey. They were scheduled to return early in the morning of September 8th.

When that day came, her family said they didn't receive a call.

“That’s when we realized they hadn’t come home yet,” Lyon said.

Lyon said they tried calling the bus company and stopping by the train station to get more information. They also tried calling relatives in Mexico.

Anthony Soto, Maria Soto's son, said he then received a text message.

“I got a text saying there was an accident,” Anthony Soto said.

After hours of trying to figure out what happened, the family flew to Mexico.

“We were exhausted,” Anthony Soto said. “I call different hospitals, call different people, and call any friends or family we knew in the area.”

The family had limited information, but eventually said they learned that the charter bus that was scheduled to arrive in San Antonio crashed into an 18-wheeler north of Monterrey.

The bus burst into flames, the family said.

“It just felt too incredibly cruel,” Anthony Soto said.

The family said there were about 20 passengers in total on the bus. After DNA testing, the family said it was confirmed that Laura Salas and Maria Soto were two of the four victims who died in that crash.

Preparations for transporting their bodies back to San Antonio and planning their funerals are expensive, Lyon said. The family has been raising funds to cover these costs.