LA JOYA, Mexico, Dec. 27 (UPI) — Up to 30,000 people attended the quinceañera of 15-year-old Rubi Ibarra in Mexico, which was tainted by the death of a 66-year-old man, local officials said.
Félix Peña died during a traditional “chiva” horse race, which offers cash prizes in honor of the birthday girl, after being trampled by his own horse. There were no safety barriers for the horse race and thousands were in attendance for the event.
“He thought no one was coming, he looked out and the horse came from behind and took him. These things happen because of so many people,” Juan Garcia, a rancher who said he witnessed the incident, told El Universal.
Mexico’s General Directorate of Civil Protection said up to 30,000 people showed up for the festivities, where there were lines nearly 10 miles long to enter. The governor of Mexico’s San Luis Potosí state and local mayors were in attendance.
El Heraldo reported Rubi seemed nervous, sad and surprised by the day’s events. Her mother scolded reporters for harassing her daughter to get commentary.
Rubi’s quinceañera invitation for “everyone” went viral and more than 1.3 million people said they would attend the event on Facebook. Companies later offered to sponsor the event. Crescencio Ibarra, Rubi’s dad, later clarified that his invitation for “everyone” meant those in nearby communities.
