Easter Week 2022 turned out to be the most-deadly since 2012, when there were 40 deaths (including 31 traffic accidents and four drownings). In the pre-pandemic year, 2019, there were 33 deaths (including 30 in traffic accidents)
The fourth and wrap-up bulletin of the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) issued on Monday, 18 April 2022 established there were 34 deaths during the Thursday to Sunday Easter Week safety campaign period. Of the 34 deaths, 25 were due to traffic accidents, and motorcyclists were involved in 18 of the traffic deaths. According to the entity director, retired Major General Juan Manuel Méndez, motorcycles represent 72% of those killed in traffic accidents. There were 187 traffic accidents, affecting 257 persons.
Four persons were run over by vehicles, and nine persons drowned. There were 28 children, two to 17 years, among the 547 reported intoxicated by alcohol. Mendez says the COE has supplied a list of the children for the prosecution of their parents.
The death toll compares to 26 for the 2021 holiday. This time last year, the country continued under circulation restrictions for Covid-19.
Mendez says the COE estimates at more than five million the people that left their homes for the vacation week. Of these 10,44 received road assistance, 2,138 medical care, 53 were rescued at sea. There were also 35 lost children who were returned to their parents.
In its final report, the Emergency Operations Center (COE), says that of the 187 traffic accidents, there were motorcycles involved in 140 of these, or 75% of the cases. This compared to 2021 stats, when there were 163 traffic accidents, including 133 that involved motorcycles (82%). In pre-pandemic year 2019, there were 181 traffic accidents, of which 150 involved motorcycles (83%).
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COE
El Caribe
Diario Libre
19 April 2022