Vehicle Crashes Into Open-air Market In Chile, Killing Several People

SANTIAGO, Chile — An off-duty personnel of nan Chilean navy driving a backstage conveyance collapsed into an open-air marketplace successful nan coastal metropolis of Vina del Mar connected Sunday, sidesplitting respective people, nan navy said successful a statement.

A video circulating connected societal media from a residential information camera appears to seizure nan infinitesimal nan car plunges into nan stalls. Other videos show nan driver being rushed to a constabulary car arsenic angry bystanders tally aft him shouting.

“The mishap resulted successful nan deaths of respective group and near others pinch injuries of varying severity,” nan navy said, adding that it was cooperating pinch authorities to found nan circumstances surrounding nan crash.

The navy connection did not supply an nonstop number of fatalities, but section media reported astatine slightest six deaths.

Officials astatine Gustavo Fricke Hospital said 5 group — including 2 babies — were admitted pinch various traumatic injuries that were not life-threatening. Police, firefighters and paramedics treated galore group astatine nan scene. Two different injured group were discharged.

“At this shape of nan evaluation, they are unchangeable and retired of life-threatening danger, but of people they are still awaiting nan completion of each nan examinations required successful these cases,” said Denise Cataldo, nan hospital’s lawman director.

The off-duty personnel of nan navy — nan only personification detained successful relationship pinch nan incident — tested antagonistic successful a breathalyzer test, Interior Undersecretary Máximo Pavez said.

Col. Jorge Guaita, constabulary prefect for Vina del Mar, told reporters that nan driver said that he didn’t retrieve thing and that nan origin of nan incident is yet to beryllium determined.

“Witness statements from group who saw nan clang bespeak that nan conveyance was walking successful nan correct guidance of traffic, astatine precocious speed,” Guaita said, adding that erstwhile nan conveyance mounted nan sidewalk, it spun around.

“Fortunately, nan autobus extremity brought it to a halt. Otherwise, it mightiness person continued guardant and caused moreover much damage,” Guaita said.

Witnesses told section media nan driver whitethorn person mislaid power of nan conveyance aft a collision.

Chilean President José Antonio Kast said connected X that nan incident had plunged “the full state successful mourning.”

“All authorities institutions are moving to assistance those affected and to found pinch complete clarity nan responsibilities for this achy event,” Kast said.

The Caupolican market, wherever nan clang occurred, is held each Thursday and Sunday successful nan precocious portion of Vina del Mar. It comprises much than 1,000 stalls successful summation to informal vendors successful nan surrounding area and is typically visited by ample crowds.