There were over 21,000 traffic accidents last year resulting in over 1,000 deaths. Traffic accidents are the second largest cause of death for adults between 20 and 40 years of age. There were more than 9,000 people injured in traffic accidents in 2003. The Pan American Health Organization representative in the Dominican Republic, Socorro Gross, told El Caribe reporter Itania Maria that road accidents are the principle cause of physical incapacitation and paralysis. In her opinion, the majority of the accidents in the country are the result of a failure to obey the traffic laws, reckless driving or driving under the influence of alcohol. At the Dario Contreras public hospital, 17.1% of all hospitalizations were the result of traffic accidents involving motorcycles and 10.7% were from traffic accidents involving cars and trucks.