A family from Sonora and southern Arizona is asking for help to fly a man severely burned in a diesel tanker explosion to Tucson for specialized care. 

Salvador Valenzuela Carrizoza, the tanker driver, is the father of 18-month-old Ayleen and the husband of Vanessa Mariles, who works for Pima County. 

“He had second- and third-degree burns over 60% of his body,” said Mariles’ godmother, JoAnn Acosta. “Because of the explosion, his esophagus had been burned and they didn’t know exactly what other internal injuries he had at the time.”

The truck Valenzuela was driving overturned and exploded about 138 miles southwest of the U.S.-Mexico border between Caborca and popular tourist destination Puerto Peñasco, known to many Arizonans as Rocky Point. 

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Valenzuela, who was driving the truck for Grupo Moncar del Desierto, was pulled from the burning truck Sunday by passers-by and taken to a hospital in Hermosillo, where he is receiving treatment. 

Doctors say he needs a higher level of care than can be provided at the facility.

The young family and friends are hoping to help raise funds for a medical flight to Banner University Medical Center in Tucson as well as to pay for the medical bills at the hospital in Hermosillo.

“There’s a lot of people that’s been financially impacted with the pandemic and everything going on in the country, so we understand if people cannot donate,” Acosta said, adding that even $5 would help, as would a prayer. 

Mark Evans, a co-worker of Mariles at Pima County, sent a news release from his personal email detailing the case. Evans is the communications director for Pima County. 

Valenzuela and Mariles had planned to marry in October, according to Evans.

The couple had been together since 2015, and this accident changed their plans. Evans said that Mariles married Valenzuela in the hospital after arriving in Hermosillo from Tucson. 

Since the explosion is under investigation, it is unclear what if any responsibility Grupo Moncar del Desierto has for Valenzuela’s medical expenses, Evans said.

The cost of the medical flight is estimated at up to $50,000.

Acosta said taking him via ambulance on the four-hour trip from Hermosillo to Tucson would be too dangerous given his condition.

The family has created a GoFundMe account, hoping to receive help on both sides of the border for Valenzuela to be transferred to Tucson.  

“Just the fact that he’s still alive is a miracle because they gave him pretty minimal chance of living,” Acosta said.

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