Nicole Valeria Vargas Gómez, The Voice Kids Star, Dead at 19

A bright vocal talent has fallen silent far too soon.

Nicole Valeria Vargas Gómez, who competed on season four of Colombia’s The Voice Kids in 2019, died following a hit-and-run incident in the department of Quindío. She was 19.

The tragedy—which also took the life of 40-year-old William Andrew Paipa—occurred when a vehicle struck both victims as they crossed the road, throwing them both in the air, multiple outlets reported citing local police.

“A traffic accident occurred involving pedestrians being run over by an unidentified vehicle, affecting two individuals who were crossing the road in the restaurant area at El Solar,” authorities said in a statement to Unilad published Feb. 24. “At this time, the individuals can be identified as William Andres Paipa and Nicole Valeria Vargas Gómez.”

Following the fatal crash, investigators continue to search for the vehicle involved in the encounter, the outlets reported.

During her time on the singing competition, Gómez detailed her first exposure to music as a baby when her late grandmother would sing to her. She eventually discovered her own musical chops in school, albeit accidentally.