Authorities have launched a “disciplinary investigation” and are seeking “drastic sanctions” against the agent.
News Colombia.
In the city of Pereira, there has been enormous outrage after a traffic officer threw a cone at a motorcyclist, causing him to fall violently to the ground.
The incident occurred during a traffic operation aimed at controlling the invasion of the exclusive lane of the mass transportation system, Megabus, in the capital of Risaralda.
Security cameras captured the moment when the Traffic Institute agent stopped the vehicles passing through the area.
The recordings show a motorcyclist trying to evade the operation at high speed. However, the agent threw a cone, hitting the motorcyclist and causing him to fall instantly.
The images show how the motorcyclist and his vehicle were dragged several meters, losing his helmet in the process. Despite the impact, the motorcyclist got up and went to the traffic officer to confront him.
He burned the motorcycle in Pereira
After the incident, it was learned that the motorcyclist set fire to his vehicle and then fled the scene. Regarding this, local authorities stated that this is usually done by those who do not have the proper documents.
For his part, the mayor of Pereira, Mauricio Salazar Peláez, has requested an investigation by the Mobility Institute for possible abuse of authority.
The president declared“I have instructed the traffic director to initiate a disciplinary investigation and impose drastic sanctions against this agent. Authority must not be abused; life is sacred.”
#PEREIRAOn CR 10 and CLL 15, at a traffic checkpoint, an officer threw a cone at a motorcyclist who was riding on the bike path, causing a spectacular fall.
What do you think? pic.twitter.com/cS3vwjh8J9
— Dark Colombia (@OscuraColombia) August 13, 2024
Something similar happened in Bucaramanga, but the motorcyclist died.
A real tragedy occurred last Wednesday, July 5, in the city of Bucaramanga, after protests were unleashed by the motorcycle union, who accused a traffic officer of “throwing a cone” that caused a motorcyclist to fall and subsequently lose his life.
The events that generated indignation led to the streets of the capital of Santander becoming almost a battlefield.
#NewsOfTheDay | Following the death of a motorcyclist near the Diamante Station, some people burned the motorcycle of one of the traffic officers who was at the scene. pic.twitter.com/Ui222f8neX
— Snail Bucaramanga (@CaracolBga) July 5, 2023
Relatives of the victim arrived at the scene, where witnesses said “it was the agent’s fault.” They said that everything happened when the motorcyclist tried to evade a checkpoint, “they threw the cone at him, he became unstable and fell.”
Blocks, attacks and fights
During the morning there have been blockades and fights between motorcyclists and traffic agents.
Several roads have been closed and stone attacks against the Municipal Transit offices have also been reported.
Transit about what happened
Carlos Bueno, Secretary of Traffic of Bucaramanga, stated the following:
- A motorcyclist lost his life in a serious accident that occurred today Wednesday at 7:30 am in the exclusive lane of Metrolínea, near the Diamante station.
- Witnesses at the scene say the incident occurred when the motorcyclist was traveling on the exclusive lane and noticed a checkpoint.
- While trying to get away and evade the authorities, he lost control of his motorcycle and violently crashed into the pavement, for which we regret the incident and send our condolences to the motorcyclist’s family.
- The DTB has requested support from the National Police and the CTI of the Prosecutor’s Office to lead the legal proceedings and ensure transparency throughout the procedure.
- We also inform that we have requested police support to counteract and prevent acts of vandalism against the entity’s headquarters.
- We have been transparent in all our actions and we will continue to be so in this case, but we will not tolerate acts of sabotage that seek to tarnish the work we have been building with the support of citizens.
