The number of people who lost their lives in a traffic accident that occurred on Monday, September 23, rose to four, including an 18-year-old man, when a truck carrying construction materials overturned on the slope known as La Llorona, on the road between Dalia and Rancho Grande, in Matagalpa. The driver of the vehicle left the scene of the incident and is being sought by the police.
Local news platforms report that at around 8:00 a.m. on Monday, a red dump truck with license plate MY-22459, owned by the company SOGASA, loaded with limestone and driven by Juan Carlos Acevedo, 35, overturned halfway up a hill, apparently due to mechanical failure.
Reports indicate that the vehicle’s brakes failed and the driver was unable to control it, which caused it to overturn. Three people who were traveling in the back seat died at the scene due to various injuries: Elías Velásquez Méndez, 18 years old; Julio César Velásquez Martínez, (58); and Maximino Muñoz González (56).
However, during the night, a fourth person was reported dead, with serious injuries. This was Marvin Rivera, 49, who was reportedly taken to a medical centre but did not survive his injuries.
Information pages on the social network Facebook indicate that the deceased are believed to be workers on a road rehabilitation project being developed by SOGASA for the Road Maintenance Fund (FOMAV).
At the time of the accident, seven people were traveling in the truck plus the driver, three of whom suffered serious injuries. The injured who are being treated at the Matagalpa hospital are: Eliet Velázquez, Juan Carlos González, 34 years old, and Wilmer Matamoros, 34.
Fewer road deaths in 2024, police say.
The most recent report from the National Traffic Safety Directorate of the Sandinista Police indicates that, between January 1 and September 15, 2024, there were 663 deaths from traffic accidents and 2,007 injuries, mostly due to drunk driving. Of the total number of deaths on the roads so far this year, 341 were motorcyclists.
According to the Ortega police, in 2024 the number of deaths in road accidents has been reduced by 22 and the number of injuries by 148, compared to the same period of the previous year.
