Tragedy in El Salvador, Impacts Local Church of God
16 Dead in El Salvador as Big Truck Hits Pickup with about twenty adults and children.
According to Miguel Ángel Perdomo, Regional Overseer of the Church of God in Western El Salvador, sixteen people were killed as a result of a tragic accident in an outlying area of Santa Ana, El Salvador, Friday, May 15, 2015. Local police authorities state that about 4:30 p.m. a large tractor-trailer loaded with heavy machinery crashed into a pickup with about twenty adults and children that were returning from a funeral service. 
Overseer Perdomo said that 14 died at the scene of the accident and two more died at the hospital the following day.
All sixteen people were from the same community in Santa Ana. Seven of them were members of the Iglesia de Dios de la Colonia Provindencia (Providence Community Church of God). Three others, in critical condition at a local hospital, are also members of the Church of God.
The ages of the seven Church of God members killed range from 2 to 54 years old. Some of them were from the same family.
Upon hearing of the terrible accident, Dr. Tim Hill, Director of World Missions said that Church of God World Missions would be in prayer for the hurting families and the local church as well. Moreover, World Missions would be in touch with the Salvadorian National leadership as well as Dr. Otoniel Collins, Central America Superintendent to obtain additional information as to how to assist the affected families.
The pastor of the local Church of God, Reverend René Mendoza, said that the city mayor has donated the caskets for the deceased. Their respective families are of limited resources and are in need of financial assistance said Mendoza. The local Church of God congregations have come together to assist the hurting families in some way as they complete the funeral arrangements for their loved ones.
Overseer Perdomo asked for prayer for the local churches as well as the Providence community. The three persons in critical care at the local hospital need financial help for medicines and follow-up care stated Perdomo.
Perdomo is also looking into securing the services of counselors to provide emotional and spiritual care to the immediate and extended families as they grieve for the loss of their loved ones.
Please contact Church of God Hispanic Ministries or World Missions for additional information as to how to help the families that were severely impacted by this atrocious accident.
Submitted by Carlos S. Morán, Director of Hispanic Ministries
