Accident in Copiapó leaves two people dead and 39 injured

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SANTIAGO.- At least two people are dead and five are listed in very critical condition after an accident reported early this morning on route 5 north near the area of Cardone hill, about four kilometers south of Copiapó.

The event occurred when a truck, at the 802nd kilometer of the route, crossed the median and collided head-on with a passenger bus belonging to the company TurBus, which was traveling from Santiago to Arica.

The crash, which happened at 3:20 AM this morning, also left 34 other people with non-critical injuries who were transferred to Copiapó Hospital. For now, the five people seriously injured have been taken to the local Mutual de Seguridad Medical Center.

Police had reported that the driver of the truck, identified as Andrés Osandón Vergara (26), was under the influence of alcohol. This was later confirmed after police forces spoke with him at the scene of the accident.

Those killed were the driver and assistant of the passenger bus, identified as Yamir Carroza Palomino (50) and José Arriagada Ávila (31), respectively.