Overview

• The incident unfolded on July 13 when 78-year-old María Saturnina Briagas Tovar began choking on a hot dog in the Costco Valle Oriente food court.
• Family members, nearby customers and an on-site physician attempted first-aid while paramedics performed over 30 minutes of CPR before she was pronounced dead from asphyxia.
• San Pedro Garza García municipal police cordoned off the food court and forensic investigators from the Fiscalía General de Justicia del Estado de Nuevo León opened an official investigation.
• Despite the secured perimeter and ongoing inquiries, Costco Valle Oriente remained open and continued serving customers throughout the day.
• The case has drawn attention to emergency preparedness and safety protocols in self-service food courts, particularly for vulnerable elderly patrons.