Lorton Mother And Son Killed In Mexican Bus Crash: Authorities

LORTON, VA — A Lorton mother and her 11-year-old son were among the tourists killed Tuesday when a tourist bus crashed in Mexico, authorities say. The bus had been traveling from cruise ships to nearby Mayan ruins when the driver lost control and the bus overturned, killing Anna Behar, of Lorton, Virginia, and her 11-year-old son Daniel, according to reports.

The boy's grandmother, Fanya Shamis, 78, of Coconut Creek, Florida, was also killed, WRC-TV reported. Moises Behar, the husband of Anna and their 15-year-old son, David, were on the trip as well and were injured in the crash.

Eight Americans and four others were killed in a bus crash in Quintana Roo, Mexico, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico. Family members told WUSA TV that Daniel, a student at South County Middle School, died in his father's arms. Moises Behar was hospitalized, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

Neighbors and friends planned to gather Wednesday night to pray for the family.

Lorton residents told NBC Washington that Anna Behar was an adventurous woman who loved traveling, and had close friends in the neighborhood. “Anna has a bigger than life personality," neighbor Phyllis Martin told the TV station. "She set her mind to do something, boy, did she do it.”

A preliminary manslaughter probe found that the driver lost control of the bus. When he tried to return to the narrow highway, the bus overturned, smashed into a tree and landed on the side of the road, state prosecutors said. Driver negligence and speed caused the crash, officials said Wednesday.

The majority of passengers came from two Royal Caribbean ships, the company said in a statement.

"Due to a lack of care the driver lost control of the bus' steering to the right, leaving the asphalt," state prosecutor Miguel Angel Pech Cen said at a news conference. Evidence pointed to excessive speed, he said.

Three Canadians, four Brazilians, four Americans and two Swedes were hospitalized for injuries, the state government said. The two Swedes were taken to the U.S. for treatment. Seven others suffered minor injuries in the crash and returned to their cruise ship.

The bus driver was hurt and taken into custody, according a state government statement issued early Wednesday. Pech Cen later said the driver wasn't in custody, but was taken away from the scene for medical treatment. They knew the driver's identity and would get a statement from him, but were unsure if he was in a hospital or still at home, the prosecutor said. He did not elaborate on the conflicting government statements.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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