Two minors were diagnosed with brain death after the impact.
News Colombia.
A night that seemed calm ended in tragedy in the Santa Rita neighborhood, in the south of Bogotá. On November 8, a group of people, including several minors, were sharing in front of their homes when a taxi, driven by José Eduardo Chalá Franco, violently burst onto the platform, running over 11 people. The impact was devastating and left multiple people injured, including four children who were seriously injured.
The authorities confirmed that Chalá Franco, 56, was driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding. The breathalyzer test showed a level II of drunkenness, while witnesses recorded on video the distressing moments after the accident, when neighbors tried to help the victims. The driver was arrested in flagrante delicto and transferred to the disposal of the Attorney General’s Office.
During the hearing, the Prosecutor’s Office charged Chalá Franco with the crimes of attempted homicide and aggravated intentional personal injury, pointing out the recklessness with which he acted and the high risk he represented for the community. The defendant accepted the charges and must comply with a security measure in a prison while the judicial process against him progresses.
José Eduardo Chalá Franco, a taxi driver by trade, while drunk and speeding, ran over a group of people with his vehicle on November 8, in the Santa Rita neighborhood of the town of San Cristóbal, in the south of Bogotá. The action left 11 injured, including… pic.twitter.com/4RoiC34Pc1
— Colombian Prosecutor’s Office (@FiscaliaCol) November 10, 2025
Investigations also revealed that the man had an extensive history of violations. According to Noticias Caracol, the taxi driver had accumulated more than ten summonses for various offenses, including speeding, improper parking and repeated drunk driving. Even on the day of the accident he was driving with a beak and license plate restriction, once again violating traffic regulations.
#NewsBogotá | A taxi driver in an alleged state of drunkenness lost control of the vehicle and ran over 11 people, including two minors, an event that occurred in Bogotá. The children, who were crossing the street with their parents, were the most affected and remain with… pic.twitter.com/zY1NZZw21e
— TUBARCO (@tubarconews) November 10, 2025
General Susana Blanco, director of the Traffic Police, pointed out that the case reflects a worrying lack of control over repeat drivers. “When reviewing this man’s history, he was in possession of a license plate and he also had more than ten summonses for different behaviors,” said the officer, who reiterated the need to reinforce controls on taxi drivers and public transporters.
The tragedy has generated a wave of indignation in the capital. Families of the victims, neighbors and citizens ask for justice and greater rigor in the sanctions against those who drive under the influence of alcohol. The case of José Eduardo Chalá Franco has become a symbol of the social demand for safer roads and exemplary sanctions for reckless driving.
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