U.S. citizen Charles Edward Candy, 61, was pronounced dead at the scene following a head-on collision with a dump truck that occurred Thursday, June 2, at the outskirts of San Juan Cosala, just east of the Piedra Barrenada’s lakefront restaurant zone.
According to information provided by officials at Chapala’s Ministerio Público (district attorney’s office), the accident was reported at approximately 4:30 p.m.
The driver of the truck was unharmed. He was temporarily held in custody until absolved of legal responsibility for the crash.
Between eye-witness reports and evidence gathered at the scene, authorities concluded that Candy was at fault, citing the Vista Alegre resident for reckless driving and invading the oncoming traffic lane. The Ministero Público is still awaiting results of the pending autopsy report that will determine whether he suffered a sudden medical crisis that may have impeded his driving abilities, leading to fatal consequences.
Friends of the deceased say he was returning from an outing in Guadalajara, where he drove a friend to a car dealership to retrieve his vehicle. While in the city, the two men did some shopping and shared a steak luncheon at a popular restaurant chain before caravanning back to lakeside.