A travel influencer has tragically died alongside two other women after a truck carrying them was swept away by a river in Nicaragua.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Emma Marie Laurent, 24, known as "barefoot BFF" on social media, was exploring the northern part of the country when the incident occurred.
In the early hours of October 9, Laurent and her companions encountered heavy rainfall while traveling in a Toyota Hilux.
The vehicle reportedly ran into trouble while attempting to cross the Nahualapa River, where powerful currents swept it away.
Travel Influencer Dies After Truck Swept Away by River
The Nahualapa River is typically calm, but heavy rainfall can cause water levels to rise rapidly and create dangerous currents.
Laurent drowned in the incident alongside Swiss national Noe Luscher, 20, and Nicaraguan hotel worker Karen Lopez Montano.
The driver, Martin Gerardo Garcia Giron, managed to escape the vehicle and was the sole survivor.
Nicaragua's co-president, Rosario Murillo, addressed the tragedy and warned about the dangers of crossing rivers during severe weather.
"They crossed a river at the time when they [shouldn't have]," Murillo said.
"Rivers are deceptive. You think they are calm and suddenly the current comes and we have tragedies like this."
Laurent was a travel vlogger who had built an Instagram following of approximately 43,000 people by documenting her adventures around the world.
Influencer Shared Her Love of Travel With Thousands of Followers
Laurent regularly shared glimpses of her travels across Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, often embracing a van-life lifestyle.
During a previous visit to Portugal, she reflected on her appreciation for the world and the experiences that traveling had brought her.
"I think the most beautiful people, inside and out, are those who know how to admire the world around them," she wrote in French.
In September, Laurent shared a video of herself waking up inside her van, accompanied by the caption, "The goal in life: to find someone who prefers this to a five-star hotel."
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal river crossing.
Investigators have yet to establish exactly how the truck lost control and was swept away by the current. It also remains unclear whether the surviving driver will face any charges in connection with the incident.
