Public Prosecutor requests 120 days to investigate accident in Putre

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SANTIAGO.- The Chief Public Prosecutor of Arica, Manuel González, has been placed in charge of the investigation into the accident that claimed the lives of 9 Cumbres high school students. He stated today that he would ask the court to provide a minimum period of 120 days to completely probe the causes of the tragedy.

"The judicial periods will depend on the court, nevertheless we plan to propose a suitable amount of time which we believe should be no less than 120 days", the public prosecutor told Radio Cooperativa.

González also said that authorities are analyzing a request for preventative measures to be taken against the driver of the vehicle, who is being charged with negligent homicide and severe injury to minors.

The public prosecutor indicated that authorities have not ruled out the possibility that evidence could surface during the investigation that would establish responsibility on the part of the tourism company in charge of the trip.

González also maintained that speeding is currently the number one hypothesis for the cause of the crash, but stated "we always wait to see if other evidence surfaces during the investigation that can gives us a better idea or change the course of the investigation".