29 dead in traffic accidents over holiday weekend

SANTIAGO.- A toll of 29 human casualties in traffic accidents is the unfortunate result of the long weekend, reported police sources today.

Colonel Víctor Arroyo explained that the figure represents an increase of 11 cases when compared to this weekend last year, as the 2007 toll of victims for these dates was 18.

According to the official, "the common variables are pedestrian carelessness and drunk driving".

The law enforcement representative also indicated that special coverage was ordered for particularly sensitive areas of the Metropolitan Region, with a force of more than 800 officers working route 68, 5 North and the San Cristobal hill "which prevented the occurrence of even more tragedies to lament".

Of the victims, five were run over, including two people participating in the religious pilgrimage on their way to Lo Vásquez, while the rest died in vehicle collisions.