Young daughter of EMT killed in crash struggles
Two first responders died when ambulance was hit on June 1.
JUPITER — While the suspect awaits trial, the widow and 6-yearold-daughter of one of the two paramedics killed four months ago in Jupiter try to move on.
First-grader Allison Besaw is struggling, said Dawn Besaw, the widow of Paul Besaw, who was killed with fellow paramedic Lahiri Garcia on June 1 in an early-morning crash on Indiantown Road.
Allison and her father had been rehearsing for a daughter/dad dance scheduled in Fort Lauderdale. Allison won’t go back to the dancing school where she and her dad had regularly practiced since she was about a year old, said her mother.
“A month after (Paul Besaw was killed) I drove her to the school. She would not get out of the car. She started crying. ‘I miss my daddy so much,’ she told me,” Besaw told The Palm Beach Post.
Genaro Delacruz Ajqui, 39, a citizen of Guatemala living in Jupiter, is accused in the crash that killed emergency medical technicians Garcia, 51, and Besaw, 36.
On June 15, Jupiter police arrested Ajqui on multiple charges including DUI manslaughter,
vehicular homicide and driving without a license .
Ajqui has been cited three times in the past 10 years for driving without a license and once for not having a license plate on his car. He has numerous traffic violations over the years, accordparamedics had just dropped ing to state and Palm Beach a patient off at nearby JupiCounty records. ter Medical Center.
Ajqui is being held in the Besaw was wearing a seat Palm Beach County Jail with- belt and Garcia was not when out bail. Ajqui crashed his 2000
Jupiter police have com- Chrysler convertible into pleted their investigation, the ambulance, according said Jupiter police Sgt. Brad to the traffic report.
Vince. Dawn Besaw wants to
“The case is in the hands establish a foundation to help of the Palm Beach County those whose family members State Attorney,” Vince said. were killed or injured by a
A status hearing is sched- drunk driver or driver operuled for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 17 is ating without a valid license at the main courthouse in or registration.
West Palm Beach. “I’m trying to find where
If Ajqui is convicted, he I can do the most good to would serve whatever time make sure no other famis imposed by a judge before ily has to go through this,” being turned over for depor- Besaw said. tation proceedings. If he is Garcia’s family has asked acquitted, he could still face not to be contacted by the deportation hearings. He media. could also negotiate a plea A handmade memorial, agreement, according to U.S. which has changed over four Immigration and Customs months since the paramedics Enforcement regulations. were killed, is at the north
Ajqui has pleaded not west corner of Philadelphia guilty to all charges. He is Drive and Indiantown Road, being represented by a public near the scene of the crash. defender, according to Palm Flowers, cards, tiny ambuBeach County court records. lances, candles and photos He has had a detainer placed are placed around the teleon him by the U.S. Departphone pole in front of Coloment of Immigration and nial Plaza.
Customs Enforcement. In black fading letters, Alli
The fatal crash occurred son wrote on the pole: “I shortly before 3 a.m. near Love You Dad (Heart) From West Indiantown Road and Allison.”
Philadelphia Drive, just west of Military Trail. The two
The fatal crash occurred shortly before 3 a.m. near West Indiantown Road and Philadelphia Drive.