'Beautiful' influencer, age 23, killed in crash as her motorbike smashes into back of lorry that ‘broke sharply’

23-year-old María José Calderón, known to her fans online as LaMayits or simply Mayits, was riding behind the vehicle when the fatal incident occurred - just days before Christmas.

According to local news reports, the lorry driver, who has not been identified, ‘broke sharply’ while trying to change lanes and Calderón had no time to react. The content creator then collided with the lorry and suffered fatal head injuries although she was wearing a helmet.

The crash happened around midday last Thursday (December 18), near the Monterrey shopping centre in Mexico.

An ambulance arrived quickly at the scene, and medics tried to save her life but she was pronounced dead.

Many fellow influencers have paid tribute to her online amid her sudden and shocking passing.

One of the first to speak out was WestCOL, a popular Colombian streamer who has more than six million followers. He appeared visibly emotional during a livestream, where he confirmed the news and spoke of his grief.

“I haven’t been doing very well, she was a very close friend of ours,” he said. “She was with us at the very beginning, when we were just starting out. It’s very difficult to talk about this, this December has been harder than usual.”

He then spoke to his fans directly and issued a warning. “Value life, take care of yourselves, it can be gone in the blink of an eye,” he said. He went on to ask them to be respectful and mindful of Calderón’s family as they came to terms with her loss.

Calderón, who was known for her dance routines and energetic videos, had gained 45,000 followers. Along with her passion for dancing, she also enjoyed boxing and was a keen amateur boxer.

Her last Instagram post came just over a week before her death, on Tuesday December 9. “I feel pretty today. My friend Mariana made me look beautiful,” she wrote.

The Fénix Academy of Aerial Techniques, an aerial arts organization based in Monterrey of which she was a member, also paid tribute to her. They remembered her as a woman who “felt life with her whole body” and lived with deep, honest dedication.

Commenting on some of her last posts, fans also left many tributes. Writing on a picture Calderón had uploaded in August in celebration of her birthday, one wrote: It'”s so hard to see this picture now, knowing she's gone... Rest in peace, beautiful.”

Another said: “Rest in peace. My condolences to his family during this painful time.” A third penned: “You were and always will be a great person in everything to me.” Many simply posted crying face emojis or broken hearts.

Police in Monterrey are investigating the crash.