Traffic accidents accounted for 22 traffic fatalities over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, according to the somber report from the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) on the outcome of the “Pact for Life: Safe Christmas 2019” safety operation. Over the Christmas and New Year holidays (23-26 December and 30-1 January), there were 190 reported accidents with 255 persons injured or wounded.
COE commander General Juan Manuel Mendez Garcia explained that over the New Year holiday, ten persons died, 90 persons were injured in vehicle accidents. The safety operation registered 95 vehicle accidents, 297 persons reported intoxicated, 151 persons with food poisoning. Nearly 17,000 calls for highway assistance were attended.
General Mendez explained that 17 of the 22 fatalities during the long holiday period involved motorcyclists, four persons were run over by vehicles and one person died after being run over by a car. There were 195 traffic accidents, involving 271 persons. The COE reported 513 alcohol intoxications, including 47 of minors ages 3 to 17 years.
The bulletin issued by the COE reports some awe-inspiring numbers for the holiday operation: 20,322 highway assistances, 32,900 medical assistances and 53,300 road assistances.
The most considerable number of accidents occurred in Greater Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, Santiago La Vega and Puerto Plata.
The Highway Assistance program of the Ministry of Public Works, DIGISETT, Cestur, and Civil Defense combined a total of 40,000 men and women, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, police and search and rescue personnel.
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El Nacional
Hoy
Listin Diario
Hoy
7 January 2020