Man killed by car on JD Blvd

DrChrisHE · #1 12-02-2007, 07:13 PM

Does anyone know the details of what happened to the local man who was killed by an auto on the JD Blvd. I believe it happened later on Friday. Admittedly, I have not bought every paper & scoured it, but I've also not seen anything posted here.

Who was he? Did he have family? Was there alcohol involved? Did the driver stop? Was the driver drunk?

My housekeeper passed the info onto me yesterday and I've forgotten to post it until a few minutes ago. That area where the Los Conucos sign is (between Metro and the gas station) is a dangerous place in more ways than one. In the US, it would be an automatic stop light (not that a light would be heeded here) but something needs to happen. Pedestrians, motos, bikes, trucks and cars all contribute to the problem there so it's not like one can point a finger and say "It's your fault."

My condolences to the family if anyone knows them.

TIA!

MommC · #2 12-02-2007, 07:21 PM

My housekeeper also told me about it. Said the motoconchista said it was a young man who worked at Flor di Loto but I haven't had a chance to talk to Mara to find out for sure.......
She said the concho driver said he was hit by a green truck or he struck a hole in a green truck...........details were vague.......

DrChrisHE · #3 12-02-2007, 07:41 PM

Thanks for the info MommC...that is terrible.

My housekeeper was crying too much to get any more info (she's hard to understand anyway and tends to be on the nervous & emotional side).

I must say that I'm always cautious around that area and it worries me when my 17 year old is driving. He's been having to drive me to the Cap 2x/wk for my surgical follow-up (I can drive but not during recovery). Although he's a very good driver, teenagers aren't always the best at anticipating other people's maneuvers.

In some ways I'm surprised that there aren't MORE accidents. I can't imagine what it will be like when those high-rise condos in the Cap are complete. The only people who'll be able to afford them will also have Jepetas and the traffic will be unbearable. I know Metro is supposed to help, but personally I think a light rail system would have been better and cheaper. As JD grows to be more of a bedroom community for the Capital, more and more of these encounters are likely. We all need to be extra careful driving and walking.

Janin · #4 12-02-2007, 07:43 PM

Strange enough.
Was the deceased a DR1 member?
This question seemed to matter in the past....

Janin

DrChrisHE · #5 12-02-2007, 07:50 PM

I don't know (and I'm not sure if it matters for posting on DR1) but IF he worked at Flor Di Loto, it is very possible he was a DR1 member. Flor di Loto is one of the "Hotspots" in JD for Dunhill's wifi. If I recall, the last time I brought someone there, the clerk behind the desk was surfing the web in English. He didn't speak English (which is why I was there--to translate) but many of us read better than we speak in another language.

Matilda · #6 12-02-2007, 09:16 PM

There are accidents there all the time. Last week there was one death and the day following another guy on a bike broke his leg. The guy who died last week lost control of his car as the tire burst and he lost control and crossed the motorway and hit a bus. No idea where he worked. There were 2 accidents last week and one death. The guy who died didn't work in Fior di Loto but in the construction nearby.

DrChrisHE · #7 12-02-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matilda

There are accidents there all the time. Last week there was one death and the day following another guy on a bike broke his leg. The guy who died last week lost control of his car as the tire burst and he lost control and crossed the motorway and hit a bus. No idea where he worked. There were 2 accidents last week and one death. The guy who died didn't work in Fior di Loto but in the construction nearby.

Thanks Matilda...this accident happened Friday. IS it possible there was ANOTHER one in that same spot? Are you reporting the "official record?" I know that area is bad. There are a few really dangerous intersections in JD and that is one. People come flying off the hwy and don't slow down through Guaycanes and hit JD at 100-120kpm. My understanding of this situation was that they (as with you) found that there was no working ambulance in JD or in SPM. Any further info on that?

About the tires...that is another issue too. We've joked about the number of Gomerias there are but a friend of ours thinks they are the ones that put the nails and the glass in the road. Part of the problem is that it is sometimes hard to get tires to fit one's particular vehicle so you're suck with having tires repaired...and repaired. That can't be a good thing for accidents.

MommC · #8 12-02-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matilda

There are accidents there all the time. Last week there was one death and the day following another guy on a bike broke his leg. The guy who died last week lost control of his car as the tire burst and he lost control and crossed the motorway and hit a bus. No idea where he worked. There were 2 accidents last week and one death. The guy who died didn't work in Fior di Loto but in the construction nearby.

Just got the scoop from Mara.......

She actually witnessed the accident and is extremely frustrated by the whole incident.

The vehicle was 'bumped' by a guagua thaqt was travelling at a high velocity (speeding) causing the driver to fishtail. As he attempted to regain control of the vehicle it was cut in half by an oncoming guagua also travelling at a high velocity.
She immediately called 911 and asked that an ambulance be dispached post haste. Then she called the policia and asked them to respond to the scene. Then she called the police officer that actually lives at Flor di Loto and asked him to attend also.

There was an American paramedic staying at the guest house who she asked to help if possible. The paramedic had no equipment (she is on holiday) however went to investigate. The paramedic informed Mara that the young man (28-29 yr.old) WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT!

45 minutes after the impact - no policia -no ambulance. The only one who was there was officer from Flor di Loto.

Then the fire department arrived (why? Mara is not sure as they weren't requested).

The ambulance finally arrived two hours later - when it was not needed, as the young man who was from the capital was already dead!

The accident took place in front of S.C.O.R.E. international at the intersection of the road to Flor di Loto. As usual there was no-one in their medical clinic (seems it is only staffed when they have groups in from the states) to give assistance.

This is a VERY TRUE representation of life in the DR.

Nothing functions as it should/could. Apathy/corruption exists at all levels of gov't and ordinary peoples' lives have no value.

So come, enjoy the AI's, the beautiful beaches, the sun, the sea but pray for all you are worth that your stay is uneventful!

DrChrisHE · #9 12-02-2007, 11:01 PM

While I thank you for the info and concur on your warning, I have an awful pit in my stomach now MommC! So sad & how true... thank you for all of your thoughts.

My thoughts now turn to the over crowded guaguas. There were 2 involved? Weren't there any causalities in those? Why is this stuff not being reported? How come we have to hear it from housekeepers and ask questions on-line?

We have a friend who also lives in Metro who wants to start an "ambulance insurance" business. His idea came after his son was injured and he discovered the true lack of decent evacuation services and in fact relative lack of skill in some of the JD medical practitioners (I was distressed that he didn't call me...but that's another story.) He wants to know if people would pay for a private ambulance insurance. My view is that it would probably have to be alone the lines of a life-flight helicopter due to traffic in the cap...any thoughts? comments?

MommC · #10 12-02-2007, 11:28 PM

but I don't think anyone on the guaguas were hurt. They were the big buses with the cattle catchers on the fronts and apparently their speed was sufficient that basically what happened was the impact split the vehicle the young man was driving on impact as it 'glanced off' the bus.

I'll investigate more tomorrow after yoga and get back to you......

As for private insurance/ambulance service I don't think there is a large enough 'permanent' population in JD to support such a service. My impression is that the cost of the service would be more than those that I am aquainted with would be willing to pay.

It's my understanding that the ambulance that serves JD is no longer based in JD or SPM but is stationed in Bavaro to serve the resorts in that area.

One of the inhabitants in our building should have been transported to hospital this past March however when the ambulance was called they were told it would take two hours to get here so someone drove him (which is why most accident victims are usually just thrown in the back of a pick-up or if not too bloody into a taxi and transported to SPM- if broken spine or neck involved they can forget about ever walking again even if they survive!).

Just another reality of life in the DR!

gre: