Three national days of mourning declared after four students killed in San Ramón
Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - By Matt Lechuga
Four students died after they were struck by a car during the early morning Wednesday.
Four students were killed Wednesday morning in an accident that occurred in San Rafael de San Ramón, Alajuela, 65 km northwest of San José.
A group of nine senior students from Julio Acosta García High School in San Ramón were hit by a driver in a Toyota Tercel while walking on the side of the road, according to the daily La Nacíon. The newspaper reported that the group had been singing a serenade, a tradition among students in their last year of high school.
Dennis Méndez, Luis Alonso Solís and Angie Miranda, all 18, died at the scene. A fourth victim identified as 18-year-old Iván Elizondo died at Hospital Mexico. President Laura Chinchilla declared three days of mourning in the afternoon.
A fifth student, identified as 17-year-old Joxiny Hidalgo, remains in critical condition, a spokeswoman for Hospital México said.
The accident occurred at approximately 4 a.m.
The Judicial Investigation took the driver, whose last name is Chavarría, into custody. According to La Nación, Chavarría is a 25-year-old prison guard at La Reforma Prison in Alajuela. He was allegedly driving on a license that expired in 2006, his vehicle had a circulation permit from another automobile, and the car’s vehicle inspection sticker was issued for a motorcycle.
Instructions:
1. First, you will read the new posted on the blog related to a recent event of four students who were killed by a drunk driver.
2. When you finish reading answer the following questions as your blog’s comment.
1. What is your perspective or opinion about this pitiful event?
2. What is your opinion about Costa Rican’s laws and punishment in regards to drunk drivers? Do they deserve a harder sentence?
3. As a student of eleventh grade, what suggestions or precautions can you take into account and give to other students when doing these types of activities (serenades) late at night?
1.I think the driver was irresponsible, because he was drunk, the car was going faster than the established limit and he broke another laws. But, the students were guilty too, because they were in the middle of the street and it was so late.
ResponderEliminar2.The laws in Costa Rica just need to be a little modified, but, the punishments need a big improvement. Most of the drivers that are driving drunken aren´t accused, other ones doesn´t receive a sentence and the fewest punishments that are given are insignificant, they need to be harder to avoid this kind of incidents.
3.I would say that they have to be more responsible, in any place it isn´t safe to stay in the street, because in that hours are so dangerous. So they have to be more cautious when they are in activities like that one.
1) My opinion about that is terrible because, was careless of the young people and the driver not to go the proper speed.
ResponderEliminar2) My opinion is not effective because the laws are not punished and they should be with regard to drunk drivers are irresponsible and do not become aware about the numbers of deaths there because of them and is say to be another form of violence in the streets. And I think it should be hard the laws and to verify compliance.
3) Let there not to be booze and think about that and what they are doing because that often depend of their lives and that is not bad at night.
1)I believe the incident was a tragedy that occurred because several people who had a future ahead died because a drunk driver, that besides didn`t have any kind of document that could certify him as a driver.
ResponderEliminar2)I think that Costa Rican laws relating to drunk drivers should be fixed. All they have to impliment is that during the time in prison drunk drivers should receive rehabilitation to try to change their mentality to avoid more tragedies.
3)I would try to be careful while being on the street and would avoid drinking because when people drink they don`t know what they are doing and they could cause an accident.
1- Unfortunately it is hard to understand how in a moment everything seems fine and suddenly happiness ends! For the classmates should be very sad to see how their friends died in that moment of fun. Now I just ask God for strength to his classmates, teachers, loved ones and leading families of the deceased since they are the ones to suffer most. About the man who ran over, I feel he is irresponsible because was drunk and driving also without headlights.
ResponderEliminar2- If you're buying a car or motorcycle should know about the law, now, I think here the laws should be stricter and should be fixed, but still, a person can live in jail for life that never pay the price of a life.
3- 3- Well first take control about the drinks because the students were also drunk and be careful of where you are, try to not be on the street!
DIANA SALAS
ResponderEliminar1 - I think it is very sad and unfair as it not only in this case the majority of car accidents die or leave innocent people affected by the fault of a drunk driver or driving license with benzene and without the certificate.
2 - lately have enacted laws to punish the strongest type of crime and I feel good because they must pay for their actions and if they kill someone if they are worth more harsh as this is a homicide.
3 - be careful if drinking alcohol will be to measure and responsibly, and think that at that time may have more dangers in the streets
1. My perspective about this event is that both of them were very guilty, the students and the driver. The students because they were in the street and off course the driver because he was very drunk.
ResponderEliminar2. Off course drunk drivers deserve a harder sentence, specially when someone passed away. I think the laws of Costa Rica really should have a change. I'm not agree with the death penalty but I'm very agree with a harder sentense.
3. Students should not be like in the middle of the street. And off course not drink too much.