Former World Champion Orlando Salido Kills 1, Injures Another in Suspected Drunk Driving Incident

In the early hours of Friday, July 5, former world champion boxer and local deputy Orlando ‘Siri’ Salido was involved in a tragic accident in the Misión del Real neighborhood, resulting in one death and two injuries, including himself. Salido, 43, is currently in police custody in a hospital, receiving medical attention for serious injuries sustained in the crash.

The incident occurred around 2:36 a.m. at the intersection of Mission de Marbella and Obrero Mundial streets. Salido’s silver 2022 Dodge RAM pickup, bearing Arizona license plates, collided with the rear of a house, causing significant damage. The crash left the vehicle embedded within the property after demolishing the rear fence and a room where a couple was sleeping.

The occupants of the house, identified as 61-year-old José Luis and 53-year-old Blanca Estela, suffered severe injuries. José Luis died from his injuries, while Blanca Estela remains under medical observation for multiple serious injuries.

The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Sonora (Fgjes) has opened an investigation based on the Homologated Police Report (IPH) from the Municipal Public Security of Cajeme. The authorities are treating the incident as a crash-like traffic accident involving a vehicle and a house, leading to the death of one person and injuries to two others, including the driver, Salido.

The former world champion was born in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico, where the fatal crash took place. Salido held multiple world titles in two weight classes, capturing the WBO featherweight title twice and the IBF featherweight title. His victories over Juan Manuel López, whom he defeated twice and a victory against Vasyl Lomachenko in 2014 remains some of the most talked-about upsets in recent boxing memory. Salido had remained a favorite among boxing fans, especially in his hometown of Sonora.

Salido’s post-boxing career has been marred by legal troubles. In addition to the early morning, fatal, suspected drunk driving incident, Salido has had previous run-ins with the law. Those offenses include allegations of domestic violence, car theft, robbery and other minor criminal charges. More details are expected to emerge regarding the circumstances leading to this tragic incident.