Semana Santa Death Toll
Reaches 39
The number of violent
deaths during Semana
Santa reached a record
high of 39 people during
the seven day (Monday to
Sunday) holiday, eight
more than the deaths
recorded last year.
The death toll is even
higher if the deaths
occurred on Saturday and
Sunday prior to the
"official" start of
Semana Santa.
According to the
official Cruz Roja (Red
Cross) figures, among
the violent deaths, 12
resulted from traffic
accidents and 10 people
were murdered. The rest
were from various
accidents such as
drowning and fires.
In the region, 264
people died violently
during the holy week, 89
in Guatemala, 65 in
Nicaragua, 37 in El
Salvador and 34 in
Honduras.
Although the death toll
surpassed last years,
the Policía de Tránsito
say that the number of
traffic accidents deaths
- three less than last
year - was kept low due
to their strong presence
on the nation's highways
and regular spot checks.
Germán Marín, director
de la Policía de
Tránsito, explained that
the entire force was on
hand during the holy
week and their presence
on the roads had an
impact on drivers,
especially on the main
routes leading to
Guanacaste and Limón.
Marín said that more
than 7.300 traffic fines
were issued and 105
vehicles detained during
the operation, of which
90% of the cases where
of drivers under the
influence of alcohol.
Marín explained tha 10%
of those ticketed were
for not haveing their
2008 Marchamo (annual
vehicle registration) up
to date or were driving
without a license.
"We had expected a more
positive reaction by
drivers who have been
heavily fined for
driving without their
seatbelt, motorcyclists
without helmets and
those driving while
talking on their
cellular telephone",
said Marín.
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