Careless Driver Causes
Multicar Accident,
Closes General Cañas For
Hours
A careless act by a
young driver yesterday
afternoon on the
autopista General Cañas,
near the San José
Palacio hotel, caused a
massive traffic jam to
and from San José and
caused the death of one
person, when five
vehicles, including a
bus were involved in the
collision.
Tránsito officials
report that the young
man drove 300 metres the
wrong way on the road
exiting the General
Cañas to San José
Palacio, then proceeded
to make a sharp right
turn to access the
autopista, crossing both
lanes of traffic,
causing a chain reaction
between the five
vehicles.
One of the vehicles, a
mini van headed west,
was hit in the rear by a
bus, causing it cross
the median and hit head
on to oncoming traffic,
colliding with two
vehicles. The driver of
one of the vehicles was
killed in the crash that
left the vehicle
mangled.
Witnesses on the scene
described it as a scene
from an action movie.
The 19 year old driver,
Josué Madrigal Brenes,
hounded by news cameras
said he would maintain
his right to keep silent
on what had just
occurred. The television
news cameras hounded the
young man on how he felt
of the even he had just
caused and if he was
aware that one person
had lost his life
because of his
negligence.
Brenes shied away from
the cameras for several
minutes before saying
that he would not make
any comment.
William Rodríguez
Jiménez, the 45 year old
man, driving a Hyundai
was immediately killed
by the impact of the
crash.
Fortunately, the
spectacular crash did
not result in more
fatalities or serious
injuries. Cruz Roja (Red
Cross) officials on the
scene reported that they
did not transfer anyone
to hospital or requiring
medical attention,
including the three
young children riding
with their mother nor
any of the 70 passengers
riding in the bus, who,
according to witnesses,
the quick reaction of
the driver avoided the
bus from flipping over.
Traffic congestion
getting to or leaving
San José lasted for four
hours, as the autopista
was completely closed
off in both directions
and traffic was diverted
through La Sabana and
the Circunvalación. |
