No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaDrunk driver who killed U.S. tourists sentenced to prison

Drunk driver who killed U.S. tourists sentenced to prison

A drunk driver who caused a 2019 traffic accident that killed four people has been sentenced to seven years in prison, according to CRHoy.

The four victims included three United States visitors and a Costa Rican. Several others were injured in the incident, which occurred when the inebriated driver, surname Sánchez, crashed his truck head-on against a minibus transporting tourists.

“The Criminal Court of the area sentenced Sánchez to 7 years in prison for the crime of manslaughter and, in addition, extended the preventive detention measure for six months, while the sentence is finalized,” reported the Public Ministry.

The incident occurred in October 2019 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 surnamed Williams, 50. All three were from Wisconsin. The Costa Rican driver of the minibus was Eduardo Antonio Arrieta Astudillo, who lived in Carrillo.

Sánchez, a Salvadoran, tested above the legal limit on two breathalyzer tests after the accident.

Trending Now

WTA Crowns Gauff-Zheng Rome Semifinal as 2025 Match of the Year

The WTA has named the grueling Rome semifinal between Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng as its 2025 Match of the Year, a fan-voted honor...

Staying on Costa Rica’s Best Beach: The awā Beachfront Hotel Experience in Punta Uva

Every traveler, no matter how many places they’ve visited, is always hoping to be surprised again — especially those returning to Costa Rica with...

Honduras Starts Partial Recount in Tight Presidential Election Backed by Trump

Honduras electoral officials started a partial recount of votes yesterday from the November 30 presidential election. The race remains close, with right-wing candidate Nasry...

Australian Open Champion Stan Wawrinka to Retire After 2026 Tour Season

Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka has declared that 2026 will mark the end of his professional career, setting up a poignant send-off at the...

Honduras Sticks with Nighttime Border Shutdowns, Complicating Travel for Visitors

Travelers heading to Honduras face ongoing hurdles at land borders, where officials shut down crossings each night. The country's immigration service halts operations for...

Costa Rica Approves U.S. Coast Guard Boats for 2026 Anti-Drug Operations

Lawmakers in Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly have given the green light for up to 195 U.S. Coast Guard vessels to access the country's ports...
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica