What are the 'spirits' called that live on the highways in the Yucatan?

Question

We were on the Maya Riviera for our honeymoon and when the cab driver pulled out onto the highway, he made the sign of the cross. When one of the passengers asked if we 'should be worried', he explained that the Mayan's believed there were 'gremlins/gnomes' who caused accidents along the highways and he needed to appease them. He showed us a temple under a freeway overpass where the 'spirits' lived and explained that people would toss candies out of their cars as offerings to the spirits. He gave us the Mayan word and I can't remember what he called them...maybe something that sounded like "ooshie"? Can anyone offer more information?

Answer 1

ALUSH, thats the word, but in english will sound something like AHLOOSHIE, in spanish is written Alux.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alux

Answer 2

I don't know the name but I do remember seeing all the candles along side of the main roadway. I had thought that it was because someone had died right there. Very interesting!