Loaded
Fuel Tanker Truck Falls Over Bridge
Shortly
before noon Saturday, a loaded fuel tanker truck
traveling at high speed spilled over when
crossing the bridge known as Pitiguirrá, a
kilometer before the entrance to Naranjo, on the
Interamerican highway.
The tractor part of the tanker remained on the
highway, while the tanker fell from the bridge
onto two houses causing a massive explosion.
Two people, who lived in the houses, Lorena
Gutiérrez Molina, 32 and José Vázquez, 38,
died from the explosion and fire. A third person
had been deemed missing for some time, but later
appeared, having fled from the scene of the
accident.
The driver of the truck was shaken but unhurt.
Authorities say the bridge is damaged and will
need repairs. They also commented that these
type of accidents can be avoided if drivers
reduce their speed and drive with more caution.
Photographer
Dies in Canopy Accident
Photographer
Johan Quirós Rodriguez, 23, died yesterday
afternoon from injuries sustained from a fall
from a canopy at the Centro Turístico Los
Lagos, 4 kilometers west of San Carlos in La
Fortuna.
The sport
consists of sliding with ropes between trees.
According to the police version, Quirós crashed
violently against a wood platform, after
traveling on the top of the trees, an
approximated distance of 350 meters.
Fabio Cedeño,
owner of the tourist center, told authorities
that the young man, who was from the area of La
Fortuna, didn't lock the pulley on his safety
harness. This caused him to pick up speed and
loosening the safety harness, causing him not to
reach the surface of the next platform.
U.S. rallies
to down Costa Rica, 3-2, for third place
Bobby
Convey scored his first goal for the United
States to give it a 3-2 win over Costa Rica
Saturday night at Miami's Orange Bowl and claim
third place in the Gold Cup.
If Brazil, a 2-1 winner over the United
States in the semifinals, beats Mexico in the
final on Sunday at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium,
a playoff would be held later to determine the
CONCACAF representative at the 2005
Confederations Cup in Germany.
The Americans twice came from one goal down
against the Ticos in a wide-open game, the first
between U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena and
his predecessor, Costa Rica head coach Steve
Sampson, as national team coaches.
Carlos Bocanegra made up for allowing Ronald
Fonseca to open the scoring by slotting home the
tying goal in the 29th minute. Bocanegra became
only the fourth U.S. defender to score four
goals in one year and the first since Marcelo
Balboa in 1994.
Fonseca again put the Ticos ahead, sending
them into halftime with a 2-1 lead, but Earnie
Stewart tied the score with a rocket, volleying
Gregg Vanney's cross into inside the near post
from 12 yards.
Landon Donovan, who assisted on
Bocanegra's goal, fed Convey perfectly to allow
his former U-17 and U-20 teammate to beat Costa
Rica goalie Alvaro Mesen to the near post.
Leftwing
Leaders Stimulate Land Invasions
Even
though there have been four forced evictions,
three Supreme Court Constitutional Chamber
sanctions against them, two deaths, and some of
their products have been destroyed, squatters in
the Bambuzal farm in Sarapiquí have not
left.
A considerable part of the 250 families that
invaded the farm two years ago remain there
motivated by their leaders promise: whoever
stays will enjoy a plot of land.
They are convinced that the land -which legally
belongs to the Standard Fruit Company- will be
handed to them, as an unidentified squatter
admitted, their leaders "have cheered us on
because everything they (Standard Fruit Company)
have done is illegal."
A spokesman for the company, Juan Carlos Rojas,
assured that all legal decisions have proven the
land is owned by Standard Fruit and that
"it is a shame so many people have been
misled."
Government
will Review Alterra's Expenditures
The
relationship between the government and the
multinational company responsible for the
administration of the Juan Santamaría
International Airport, Alterra Partners,
appeared to have grown closer last week.
It was revealed the government would recognize
greater operation costs if the multinational
firm made public the numbers that justify the
payments they require.
Transport Minister Javier Chaves assured both
parts are committed to providing Costa Rica with
"the best airport in Central America."
Since March, both the government and Alterra
have had differences regarding payments, based
on compromises agreed to with the administration
of former President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez.
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