Three people burn to death after car crashes into tree in Los Andes

SANTIAGO.-  A vehicle containing 5 passengers violently slammed into a tree at 4:00 AM this morning at the La Condroma turn on Los Villares Road in the municipality of Los Andes.  Three of the passengers were killed in the accident.

According to preliminary reports, the car (a Fiat Palio) was being driven by 22 year-old Horacio Toledo Paéz and was traveling above the speed limit as it came around the turn, subsequently crashing into a tree along the roadside. 

The vehicle completely burst into flames upon impact, killing the driver and his two friends 22 year-old Pablo Cartés Mella and 22 year-old Irene Montenegro Espíndola –all of whom burned to death in the fire. 

Despite their injuries, the other two passengers (identified as 18 year-old Boris Arroyo Rojas and Mario Paéz Herrera) were able to escape from the vehicle before it became engulfed in flames.

The Traffic Accident Investigation Department (SIAT) of Police is currently working to determine what exactly caused the accident.