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Bolivia crash kills BBC reporter | Bolivia crash kills BBC reporter |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A BBC journalist working in Bolivia has been killed in a car crash to the south of the main city of La Paz. | A BBC journalist working in Bolivia has been killed in a car crash to the south of the main city of La Paz. |
Lola Almudevar was travelling in a taxi in the early hours of Sunday as she made her way to Sucre to cover ongoing political unrest in the city. | Lola Almudevar was travelling in a taxi in the early hours of Sunday as she made her way to Sucre to cover ongoing political unrest in the city. |
The taxi collided with two trucks which had already crashed. Four others, including the lorry drivers, also died. | The taxi collided with two trucks which had already crashed. Four others, including the lorry drivers, also died. |
Ms Almudevar, 29, joined the BBC in 2002, and worked on docu-dramas and for BBC Midlands before moving abroad. | Ms Almudevar, 29, joined the BBC in 2002, and worked on docu-dramas and for BBC Midlands before moving abroad. |
Paying tribute to Ms Almudevar, the BBC said: | |
"Lola was only 29 years old and had been making a major impression on everyone who'd heard her lively and original journalism. She was building a great reputation and will be terribly missed by us all." | |
Reuters journalist injured | Reuters journalist injured |
The accident occurred at 0320 (0720 GMT) on Sunday on a motorway near the village of Ayo Ayo, about 87 km (54 miles) south of La Paz. | |
According to local reports two lorries had been involved in a collision on the motorway and had stopped on the road. | According to local reports two lorries had been involved in a collision on the motorway and had stopped on the road. |
She lit up lives wherever she went David HoldsworthBBC Head of Regional and Local Programmes in the West Midlands | |
Ms Almudevar's taxi was travelling behind, and crashed head-on into the lorries just moments later. | Ms Almudevar's taxi was travelling behind, and crashed head-on into the lorries just moments later. |
Clotilde Fernandez, the wife of the taxi driver, and three men, including the two lorry drivers, were also killed in the crash. | Clotilde Fernandez, the wife of the taxi driver, and three men, including the two lorry drivers, were also killed in the crash. |
Eduardo Garcia, a Spanish reporter working for Reuters who was travelling with Ms Almudevar, was seriously injured. | Eduardo Garcia, a Spanish reporter working for Reuters who was travelling with Ms Almudevar, was seriously injured. |
Three Bolivians were also hurt. | Three Bolivians were also hurt. |
Ms Almudevar and Mr Garcia had been en route to the city of Sucre which has been the scene of deadly clashes following the approval of a new draft constitution by a special assembly there. | Ms Almudevar and Mr Garcia had been en route to the city of Sucre which has been the scene of deadly clashes following the approval of a new draft constitution by a special assembly there. |
There are currently no flights to Sucre because of the unrest. | There are currently no flights to Sucre because of the unrest. |
Awards | Awards |
Ms Almudevar, from Nottingham, England, was the daughter of a Spanish father and British mother. | Ms Almudevar, from Nottingham, England, was the daughter of a Spanish father and British mother. |
SOME OF LOLA'S REPORTS Fuelling Bolivia's crisis? Battle for Bolivia's heart Bolivia's abandoned children Commercialising the coca leaf | SOME OF LOLA'S REPORTS Fuelling Bolivia's crisis? Battle for Bolivia's heart Bolivia's abandoned children Commercialising the coca leaf |
She graduated from Leeds University in 1999 and started her career in journalism on the university newspaper, Leeds Student. | She graduated from Leeds University in 1999 and started her career in journalism on the university newspaper, Leeds Student. |
Ms Almudevar subsequently moved to Brussels where she worked for the European Union. | Ms Almudevar subsequently moved to Brussels where she worked for the European Union. |
In 1999 she won the Heinz-Schwarzkopf Foundation's Young European of the Year prize for her efforts in promoting understanding among young people from different cultures through her journalistic work, both as a professional and student. | In 1999 she won the Heinz-Schwarzkopf Foundation's Young European of the Year prize for her efforts in promoting understanding among young people from different cultures through her journalistic work, both as a professional and student. |
'Talented' | |
She joined the BBC in the Midlands in 2002 and worked on local radio and TV programmes, including Midlands Today and Inside Out. | She joined the BBC in the Midlands in 2002 and worked on local radio and TV programmes, including Midlands Today and Inside Out. |
In 2006, Ms Almudevar and fellow BBC video journalist Brady Haran won an award for their co-production of Alexandra Road, a 10-part series following the lives of the residents of a road in Wolverhampton. | In 2006, Ms Almudevar and fellow BBC video journalist Brady Haran won an award for their co-production of Alexandra Road, a 10-part series following the lives of the residents of a road in Wolverhampton. |
She took a sabbatical in 2006, travelling to Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Bolivia, where she began working six months ago, producing pieces on a wide range of issues, including Bolivia's abandoned children, attempts to legalise coca leaf sales abroad, and the challenges facing Bolivia's President Evo Morales. | She took a sabbatical in 2006, travelling to Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Bolivia, where she began working six months ago, producing pieces on a wide range of issues, including Bolivia's abandoned children, attempts to legalise coca leaf sales abroad, and the challenges facing Bolivia's President Evo Morales. |
David Holdsworth, the BBC's Head of Regional and Local Programmes in the West Midlands, where Ms Almudevar worked, said of her: | |
"Lola was an extremely talented young journalist who was passionate about storytelling. | |
"She will be hugely missed by all her colleagues in the Midlands, where she had many friends. | |
"She lit up lives wherever she went." |