A 23-YEAR-OLD TV presenter has tragically died in hospital three days after a horror crash.
Dayanna Trujillo was riding to work on her motorbike when she collided with a taxi.
It was raining heavily at the time, and witnesses say she lost control of the bike on the slippery tarmac near a sports centre.
She was rushed to A&E, where medics diagnosed her with severe cranioencephalic trauma and multiple injuries.
Dayanna spent three days fighting for her life in the ICU but ultimately succumbed to her injuries last Friday.
The taxi driver, Fernando, told local Colombian media that his windscreen had fogged up as he was driving to the airport.
As he pulled over to clear it, he felt a strong jolt – his car was rear-ended by Dayanna’s motorbike and she was knocked to the ground unconscious.
He believes the rain likely reduced her visibility and added that her helmet may not have been fastened properly. It “flew off” and “ended up in the middle of the road”, he said.
Authorities in Ibagué – west-south-west of Bogotá, Colombia – will assess possible responsibility as part of their investigation into the crash.
Fernando insists he was “well off to the side [of the road]” and there were few other vehicles on the road at the time, as reported by NeedToKnow.
In March, Dayanna won the Tolima Broadcasters’ Association’s Micrófono de Oro (Golden Microphone) award in recognition of her outstanding work in regional journalism.
El Irreverente, the outlet she worked for, paid tribute: “She stood out for her unique way of telling stories through videos, combining closeness, clarity and sensitivity to connect with people.
“Her passion for reporting and her natural charisma made her one of the most beloved voices in local journalism.”
Her mentor, Duber Salazar, described her voice as the “morning wake-up call for thousands of people.”
He added: “I remember the first day I met you: the way you always saw the news everywhere, your precise way of writing immediately caught my attention.
“I wanted you on my team; I knew that diamond could be polished and that very soon you’d be recognised – just as you are now, while I write these lines.
“It seems unreal that today you are the news. We never imagined something like this would touch our lives; but God’s plans are perfect, and I’m sure that wherever you are, you’re smiling and dancing with joy, watching over us.”
It comes as a promising young footballer tragically died aged 16, just before a dream move to Major League Soccer.
Eder Smic Valencia was killed in a horror car crash while on holiday in his native Colombia.
