What has to be one of the deadliest stretches of highway in the Dominican Republic claimed another victim and left close to two dozen people injured yesterday when two buses collided near the infamous Puente de la Represa on the road between La Romana and Higuey. One of the buses was transporting employees from the construction of the Autopista de Coral (The Coral Expressway), and the other was a public transport vehicle full of passengers. The victim was identified as Richard Corporan, from Los Cajuiles in Mao, Valverde, according to Captain William Alcantara of the La Romana AMET office.

Dr. Frank Perez Guerrero, the head of the team of doctors treating the victims at the Dr. Canela Clinic in La Romana, told El Caribe reporters that six of the victims "are very seriously injured". Passengers on one of the buses said that "the brakes went out" and they rear-ended the other bus.

Most accidents could be avoided if drivers heeded the sign at the river crossings advising drivers not to use the brakes and to use the lowest gear instead.

More...