Tragedy: Car carrying 17 people plunges into an irrigation canal
On Monday, 8 July 2019, nine people drowned (eight Haitians and one Dominican), when a car they were traveling in, a Toyota Camry, fell into the Ulises Francisco Espaillat irrigation canal, in the community of Barrero, in the municipality of Navarrete, Santiago province. Those who died were three women and six men. There were five people injured and two of them were taken to hospital in Santiago.
The bodies were recovered from the canal, but have not yet been identified. An investigation is ongoing to determine how the tragedy occurred. As reported, it is usual that a large number of illegal Haitians be transported in sedan cars, many hidden in the truck to avoid immigration checks. As reported, the vehicle was evading military patrols in the area to prevent people-smuggling through Dajabón.
Apparently, there were 17 people in the car, including the nine who died, five who are injured and three who fled the scene. Preliminary reports say the driver was Dominican and the passengers were undocumented Haitians.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
July 18, 2019
Update:
Following the car accident on Monday, 8 July 2019, when nine people died, the driver has now been identified as 46-year-old Miguel Antonio Castro Mercedes. He had been arrested in 2018 for smuggling 10 packs of marijuana and 249 sacks of garlic.
Of the eight Haitians who died, three have been identified. These are Janvier Dieufait, Jean Bernard Pierre and Exaneau Cabe. The bodies were taken to the National Institute of Forensic Science in Santiago. Nelson Jamel, aged 21, is one of the five who were injured.
The nine died when the Toyota Camry with 17 persons plunged into an irrigation canal in Santiago province. The passengers were undocumented Haitians. The driver lost control of the vehicle when trying to evade military migration checks on the way to Santiago from Dajabón on the border.
Source: Eldia
Category: DR News |