Gas Attendant Sole Suspect in Fatal Shell Station Accident
The Shell Escazú gasoline station attendant, Gerardo Quiróz Delgado, was surprised to learn yesterday that the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) and the Fiscalía (prosecutor's office) of San José finger him as the sole suspect responsible for the explosion and fire that caused the death of the two children Saturday morning in downtown Escazú.

Delgado went before a judge in Goicochea yesterday and was ordered to check into the court every 15 days, cannot leave the country and must tell police where is living at all times.

Though Delgado has not been charged with any crime, investigators are looking into the possibility of putting the criminal blame on the man, who was changing a gasoline pump filter outside of regulations, causing a leak and subsequent explosion and fatal fire.

Delgado's wife said here husband is distraught over the incident and now feels worse as he is being fingered as the sole cause of the accident, saying she nor her husband understand why they are putting the blame on him.

For their part, Shell officials have said that they are not finger pointing, but the responsibility lies squarely in the hands of the franchise operator to ensure that safety regulations are complied with and that trained personnel change the filers. However, authorities say that Shell cannot put the blame on the franchisees, as owner of the gasoline station, has the ultimate responsibility to ensure safe operations.