Mum and influencer, aged 28, dies after being hit by a car and then a truck while trying to cross the road

28-year-old Demaris D. Martinez was hit by a car before getting run over by a truck in Paramus, New Jersey, United States.

Local police said the social media star was trying to cross a carriageway in the early hours of Saturday morning (September 21) when she was hit by a white Kia car and then by a tractor-trailer.

Demaris Martinez, of Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, was a popular YouTuber and influencer who had almost 50,000 followers on Facebook. She was known for posting content about beauty, lifestyle, shopping, cooking and her Christian faith. She posted under the handle Queen Demaris.

She had a young son called Kameron, who she had just started to introduce in to her videos. Nine months ago, she posted a video called “My First Mets Game With Kam.” In her Youtube biography, she wrote: “Will be making more vlogs with Kam! . He has been becoming very comfortable with filming. He's actually hoping to make his own YouTube channel! I told him once he turns 5, but until then he can be a part of mine.”

According to Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti, Martinez was struck by a white Kia driven by a 42-year-old man while attempting to cross the southbound lanes of Route 17 at around 3.30am, after she had crossed the northbound lanes and median. Moments later, she was hit by a tractor-trailer driven by a 65-year-old man.

Detective Nicholas Luciano of the Paramus Police Criminal Investigation Bureau confirmed Martinez’s identity.

Her followers have been mourning her loss in the comments of her most recent social media posts, and have also shared their memories of her and paid tribute to her. One person wrote: “Rest in everlasting peace baby. You gave your soul to Christ. Job well done baby. I’m hurt, complete strangers but i’m really hurt and in tears. God bless you, Kam, your mom, and your entire family baby.” Another person simply said: “Rest in peace queen.”

Authorities are still investigating how Martinez ended up on the road. Local reports indicate that the Paramus Police Crash Investigation Unit, Paramus Detectives, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation are involved.