In the early hours of Sunday, September 1, 2024, a typically quiet community in the Dominican Republic was shaken by a devastating accident.
A truck carrying avocados plowed into a bar in Azua, a southern town located approximately 62 miles west of Santo Domingo, the nation’s capital. The incident resulted in at least 11 fatalities and left more than 40 people injured, marking one of the most severe traffic accidents in the area’s recent history.
The civil defense director, Juan Salas, confirmed the grim details to the media. Authorities are examining footage from nearby cameras to investigate the cause of the crash, which remains uncertain at this time, according to Salas.
A police spokesman, Diego Pesqueira, reported that one of the victims was a police sergeant, intensifying the tragedy of the incident. Pesqueira added that while the truck driver fled immediately after the crash, authorities apprehended a passenger who had been in the vehicle.
Shaira Castillo, a spokeswoman for the National Health Service, provided details about the injured parties. According to Castillo, the victims span a wide age range, with women between 17 and 45 years old and men from 18 to 55 among those hurt. Four of the injured are reported to be in critical condition, having been rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.
Joel Montaño, the provincial director of Health of Azua, reported that most of the injured were transported to San Juan due to its proximity to the crash site. Four individuals with multiple injuries and fractures were admitted to the Taiwan Hospital of Azua in stable condition.
The National Institute of Forensic Sciences in Azua has received six bodies, with two more expected to arrive. A source from the institute confirmed to the local media that while the majority of the deceased were men, a 20-year-old woman was among the fatalities.
Authorities continued investigating and remained focused on locating the truck driver who fled the scene. The passenger detained from the vehicle may provide crucial information about the circumstances leading to the crash. The incident involving a truck carrying avocados—a common cargo in the region—has raised concerns about road safety and regulations for commercial vehicles in the area.