On Sunday, July 12th, a serious car accident occurred in the coastal city of Viña del Mar in central Chile. An off-duty navy personnel drove a car at high speed into a local open-air market, resulting in at least 6 deaths and 7 injuries. The driver involved has been detained, and the authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident.
Local officials reported that the incident took place around 8:40 am local time at the Caupolicán market in Viña del Mar, Valparaíso Region. A private car suddenly crashed into the market, hitting multiple pedestrians.
Videos circulating online show the car speeding towards the market stalls and crashing into the crowd. Another video shows the driver being taken into a nearby police car, while angry citizens chased and shouted at him.
Caupolicán market is one of the most important public markets in the area, with over 1,000 stalls and large crowds during its openings on Thursdays and Sundays.
In a statement, the Chilean Navy mentioned that the driver involved is an off-duty active-duty naval officer. The accident resulted in multiple fatalities and several injuries of varying degrees. The Navy is cooperating with the authorities to investigate the incident.
Although the statement did not provide the exact number of fatalities, local media reported at least 6 people lost their lives in the accident.
A local hospital stated that they received a total of 7 injured individuals, including two infants, with various degrees of injuries but no life-threatening conditions. Currently, two of the injured have been discharged.
Local authorities indicated that witness testimonies suggest the involved vehicle was traveling in the normal direction but due to excessive speed, it went onto the sidewalk, lost control, spun, and crashed into the roadside market, eventually hitting a bus stop before coming to a stop. Otherwise, the casualties could have been much higher.
The driver claims to have no memory of the accident, and the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Chile’s Deputy Interior Minister, Máximo Pavez, stated that the navy personnel involved is the only individual detained in the incident, and the alcohol breath test results came back negative.
Chilean President José Antonio Kast expressed on social media his condolences for the event that has plunged the nation into mourning. He offered his sympathies to the families of the victims and mentioned that the relevant authorities are fully assisting those affected while thoroughly investigating the accident’s responsibility.