Drunken Nicoya police officer kills driver in head-on collision

November 5^th, 2012 (InsideCostaRica.com) A police officer from the Fuerza Publica, driving while intoxicated, crossed into oncoming traffic and caused a head on collision with another vehicle, killing its driver.

The officer, whose last name is Perez, had 1.58 grams of alcohol per liter of blood, more than double the 0.75 allowed by law.

The accident occurred on Friday night, at 11:40 p.m. in Nicoya, Guanacaste.

The victim was identified as Nesmer Angulo Dinarte, 47 years of age, who lived in Rio Canas, Carrillo.

Angulo’s wife and daughter were also injured in the accident, and were transferred to the Hospital in Nicoya.

Authorities stated that Angulo was driving a Toyota, while the officer’s car was a Mitsubishi.

According to Andrey Castillo of the Red Cross, the man died at the scene of the accident, with injuries to his head and thorax.

Juan Jose Cascante, from the Transit Police, said that apparently, the accident occurred when the vehicle that was driven by the police officer crossed into the oncoming lane in which the victim and his family were travelling.

Judicial Investigation Organization  (OIJ) agents arrested Perez on suspicion of homicide, and he was taken to the Public Ministry. The man did not have any injuries.

According to OIJ, Perez works in Carrillo, and the man was on his day off the day of the accident.