XALAPA, Mexico (AP) 鈥 Dozens of people gathered overnight in the street where one of the Mexican naval cadets who died when their training vessel hit the Brooklyn Bridge lived.
Am茅rica Yamilet S谩nchez, 20, was in the final year of her studies at the naval academy when she was killed aboard the naval Saturday.
A small crowd gathered near her home in the early hours of Tuesday, many holding white roses and their cell phones to illuminate the way for the hearse carrying her body.
Naval officers accompanied her arrival around midnight at the orange painted house in Veracruz鈥檚 state capital Xalapa.
S谩nchez was the pride of her family, a standout student and athlete, who had already distinguished herself 鈥 scoring top marks in her naval systems engineering studies. She was a squadron leader and among those selected for the special group that accompanied President at her inauguration.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to carry you in my heart. My daughter is the pride of all of Mexico, for all the world,鈥 Cosme S谩nchez said, holding a photograph of his daughter in her dress uniform. 鈥淚鈥檓 devastated, but we鈥檙e going to move forward. My daughter was an example for everyone, she鈥檚 going to be remembered as she should be.鈥
Among the flower arrangements at her family鈥檚 home was one with a one with a white sash reading, 鈥淏arracudas family, with love.鈥 It came from the local swimming school where S谩nchez learned to take her first strokes a decade ago. At the naval academy she won medals and represented the institution nationally in open water swimming competitions.
Her most recent honor was being awarded a place aboard the Cuauhtemoc, which planned to visit 22 ports in 15 countries. On Saturday, she sent her parents photos, told them she loved them and spoke excitedly of the ship鈥檚 next stop: Iceland.
S谩nchez was high in one of the Cuauhtemoc鈥檚 three masts Saturday night when it slid out of its dock in New York, authorities told her family. It鈥檚 a ceremonial practice to greet and pay respects entering and leaving ports. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a display of discipline, skill and respect, common in training sailboats,鈥 said her uncle, Rodolfo Hern谩ndez Sayago.
鈥淪he was the pride (of the family),鈥 Hern谩ndez said. 鈥淢y girl stood out in everything she did.鈥
U.S. investigators showing the Cuauhtemoc was underway for less than 5 minutes before its masts crashed into the historic span, and radio calls indicating it was in distress went out only 45 seconds before the deadly collision.
With the help of a tugboat, the backed away from a Manhattan pier filled with cheering people at 8:20 p.m. on Saturday, U.S. officials said.
Four minutes after the ship left, a radio call went out asking for help from any additional tugboats in the area, followed by other requests for assistance, National Transportation Safety Board investigator told a media briefing Monday. Forty-five seconds after the first call, the ship, struck the bridge, snapping its three masts.
After a few minutes, the ship separated from the tug and picked up speed, still moving in reverse, heading for the bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge escaped major damage but at least 19 of the ship鈥檚 277 sailors needed medical treatment, according to officials.
Seven officers and 172 cadets who were aboard the arrived early Monday at the port of Veracruz, where Mexico鈥檚 naval school is, the Mexican navy said in a post on X.
The body of the other sailor killed, 23-year-old Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, was also returned to Mexico on Monday.
