OFF THE CUFF 40 injured in latest diablo rojo incident

THE LASTEST Diablo Rojo accident- on Thursday November 13 -sent 40 injured people to hospital, the injuries of six of them were listed as serious and representatives of transport users are again calling for the removal of the worn out US school buses to be banned from Panama roads.

The bus was packed with 50 passengers traveling from Panama to Colon at 7.30 am.
It was the latest in a series of accidents involving aged under serviced buses that theoretically are no longer allowed to be imported into Panama, and spot checks have revealed they are often driven by unlicensed drivers, or those with massive unpaid fines and some using drugs or alcohol. Some are participants in organized late night road races on public roads
Passengers in the latest “waiting for an accident to happen” told El Siglo which headlined the story “ Demons” that the bus was belching smoke and had mechanical problems . The driver stopped and went to check, but returned and continued driving.
Another said that suddenly the driver screamed : ‘Hang on we’re rolling”. There was a bang and the witness felt a blow.
Transport authorities said the bus struck a guardrail and overturned The driver, Alex Hidalgo, 37, seriously injured an arm, and passenger lost three fingers of one hand.
Twenty-six of the injured were taken by ambulance to St. Michael’s Hospital (HISMA)and others to Santo Tomas.
Transport users representatives Lucia Torres and Luis Perea, called on the Transit Authority (ATTT) to put a stop to the mess created by some drivers behind the steering wheel.
http://newsroompanama.com/columns/your-man/the-diablo-rojo-culture-lives-on
They said that irresponsible drivers put users lives at risk and called for harsher punishments including prison terms and suspension of driving licenses.
“The Diablos rojos should disappear’” said Torres.
ATTT advisor , David Ramirez, went Hospital San Miguel Arca ngel and HST where injured passengers were admitted.
Ramirez said the accident is being investigated: “If the bus and the driver did not have proper permits, the Transit Authority will impose sanctions, “he said.