No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaDrunk driver kills three U.S. tourists in car accident in Costa Rica

Drunk driver kills three U.S. tourists in car accident in Costa Rica

Three United States tourists and a Costa Rican died when the minibus in which they were traveling collided head-on with a truck, which was being driven by an alcohol-impaired Salvadoran.

The incident occurred in the municipality of La Cruz, Guanacaste (in the northwest of Costa Rica), in a tourist area with several popular ​​beaches. The truck driver lost control while traveling at high speed and hit the minibus, according to Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ).

OIJ identified the U.S. victims: a couple of last name Niemiec, both 46, and another person named Williams, 50.

The driver of the minibus, a Costa Rican, also died in the crash. He was not immediately identified.

The accident happened on Friday night, and on Saturday details of what happened were released.

According to OIJ, the cargo truck was traveling north driven by a Salvadoran, who tested positive to two breathalyzer tests.

The man was arrested and faces possible charges for involuntary manslaughter.

Hospitals in the area served four other passengers in the minibus, one of whom was in a serious conditions.

Trending Now

Latin America Questions US Boat Strikes in the Drug War

US military strikes that Washington claims have targeted "narco-terrorists" ferrying drugs to American soil are having little to no impact on Latin America's bustling...

Costa Rican Man Dies After Health Decline in U.S. Immigration Custody

Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a 52-year-old man from Pérez Zeledón, died after nearly two months in a Costa Rican hospital. His family confirmed the death,...

Panama Canal to Build Two Ports by 2029, Boosting Capacity

The Panama Canal plans to build two ports for $2.6 billion by 2029 amid uncertainty over the future of Hong Kong–based concessionaire Hutchison Holdings,...

U.S. Strikes Drug Boat in Pacific Near Colombia, Killing Two

The United States military carried out its first strike in the Pacific Ocean against a boat suspected of drug trafficking, killing two people near...

Panama’s Indigenous Families Relocate Amid Rising Sea Levels

Panama's government faces mounting pressure to relocate more Indigenous Guna families from low-lying Caribbean islands as sea levels continue to rise, building on the...

Melinda Hildebrand Confirmed as US Ambassador to Costa Rica

The United States Senate has approved Melinda "Mindy" Hildebrand as the new ambassador to our country, marking a fresh chapter in bilateral ties between...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica