Brian Matthew Faughan, a 41-year-old U.S. Vice Consul serving at the American Consulate in Monterrey, Mexico, died Wednesday evening, July 9, after his armored vehicle overturned on a highway in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. The crash occurred around 6:15 p.m. on the Torreón-Saltillo highway near the Matamoros Landfill.
According to Mexican authorities, Faughan was traveling in a Toyota Land Cruiser when he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to flip over on the side of the highway. The diplomat was reportedly en route to Torreón for a scheduled meeting with Coahuila Governor Manolo Jiménez when the accident occurred.
Emergency responders transported Faughan to Matamoros Hospital before transferring him to Los Ángeles Hospital in Torreón, where medical staff attempted to revive him. The diplomat sustained severe injuries, including a basal skull fracture, flail chest, tracheal deviation, a fractured pelvis, and an open fracture of his right leg. Officials determined his injuries were too severe for transport to a private medical facility.
Faughan was pronounced dead at 7:16 p.m., approximately one hour after the crash occurred. Medical records showed he suffered multiple fractures to his skull, right leg, and left hand. The Coahuila Attorney General’s Office confirmed the death, and his body was transferred to the local Forensic Medical Service for an autopsy.
The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, with authorities not yet providing information about what led to the vehicle rollover. Local media reports suggested the driver lost control of the car before it flipped over on the highway.
The U.S. Consulate confirmed Faughan’s death in a statement released Thursday on its Facebook page. The consulate praised his service, describing him as a valued member of their team who was dedicated to supporting American interests and strengthening ties between the United States and Mexico. The statement requested respect and privacy for his family during their time of grief.
Lorena de la Garza, who serves as deputy and president of the Nuevo León state congress, offered condolences to Faughan’s family following the tragedy. She expressed deep regret for his passing and extended sympathies to his family, friends, and work team. Former State Secretary of Public Safety Gerardo Palacios echoed similar sentiments in a message expressing regret over the diplomat’s death.
The U.S. Consulate in Monterrey is headed by Melissa Bishop, who has not yet made public statements regarding her deputy’s death. The consulate thanked Mexican authorities for their support in responding to the tragic incident.
The diplomat’s death occurred in the town of Matamoros, located in Coahuila state, as he traveled between consulate duties. The Torreón-Saltillo highway where the accident took place is a major thoroughfare connecting important cities in northern Mexico.
Mexican authorities confirmed that Faughan was driving an armored SUV at the time of the accident. The use of armored vehicles is common practice for diplomatic personnel in Mexico due to security considerations. The vehicle’s armored nature did not prevent the fatal injuries sustained in the rollover crash.
The State Department has been contacted for additional comment on the incident. The consulate statement emphasized that Faughan noted, “This individual was a valued member of our team.” The diplomatic mission continues to coordinate with Mexican authorities as the investigation into the accident proceeds.
The accident represents a significant loss for the U.S. diplomatic mission in Mexico’s northern region. Faughan’s role as vice consul involved supporting American citizens and facilitating diplomatic relations between the two countries in the Monterrey consular district.
