One of the youths that fell unconscious after taking part in a contest to see who could consume the most tequila is the son of the chief of the army. 24-year old Jose Ricardo Estrella Erazo is son of General Jose Ricardo Estrella Fernandez. A first lieutenant in the Army, Estrella is interned at the Clinica Abreu. As reported in Clave Digital, he is improving. Two of the contestants have already died, and another is in hospitalized in coma due to the intoxication trauma.
The tequila-drinking contest took Sunday, 6 March at the Blanc, Dance and Lounge of Plaza Andalucia on Ave. Abraham Lincoln in Santo Domingo. The winner of the event, Ricardo Ivan Garcia, died of cardiac arrest after consuming his 51 tequila shots. The deceased were attempting to win the RD$10,000 prize to be awarded to the individual who could consume the most tequila shots without stop during a Mexican Night. Those who vomited were eliminated. The contest started at midnight and ended when Garcia had to be rushed to the hospital.
The discotheque had asked the participants to sign a document releasing them from any responsibility.
Physician Socrates Bautista, interviewed by Listin Diario, speculates that the fact that so many of the individuals participating in the contest suffered major intoxication shows that the tequila used in the contest could have been altered.