Jan

8

Child killed by speeding vehicle; task force formed to discuss problem

January 8, 2008 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Community Calendar | Leave a Comment

January 18, 2008
3:00 pmto5:00 pm

Despacio signLast week, on the 2nd of January, a couple from France who were here visiting for a few months, were returning from their friends’ home to their own rental house in Manzanillo, with their two small boys ages 4 and 18 months. They had about one and a half kilometers to walk along the main road into the pueblo. It was a clear afternoon about 3:30 P.M. They were positioned single-file along the edge of the road, just passing a big pot hole. A speeding motorist approaching from the opposite direction suddenly saw the dangerous pot hole, swerved to miss it, hit the gravel along the edge, lost control of his vehicle, careened sideways across the road and slammed into the father and his 4 yr. old son. The father was thrown onto the hood of the vehicle and into the brush suffering a head concussion. The boy ended up under the vehicle in the ditch. He died en route to San Jose in the ambulance several hours later. Consequently, one family’s lives have been irreparably shattered forever and an entire community mourns their loss The culprit is not alcohol – the driver was sober. The culprit is not the pot holes – they are a part of every road in this country. The culprit is the irresponsible act of speeding on winding, unmarked, unsafe roads frequented by pedestrians and bicyclers, locals as well as visitors.

On January 18th, at 3:00 P.M. at the MINAE building in Manzanillo, the issue of SPEEDING DRIVERS will be addressed, as part of the planned Association meeting. Also, a multi-purpose Task Force is being formed to work towards developing a keener awareness throughout this area – from Hone Creek to Manzanillo - about driving safely, responsibly, and respectfully. Hopefully a strong anti-speeding campaign can change habits and save lives.

If you are interested in being a part of this Task Force, or if you have questions or queries regarding this issue, please come to the meeting in Manzanillo or contact Julie at 759-9005 or via e-mail at julsimstander@racsa.co.cr.