Crash hero dies from burns

A DENTIST, who suffered severe burns while trying to rescue two men from a blazing gasoline truck on Saturday  November 19, has died  from his injuries

Larkin Zapata  and three  other men were struggling to save a father and son who died in the crash and subsequent explosion of a the truck in Bocas del Toro,

Zapata died at about 10:45 a.m.  on Thursday  Nov 24 at the David Regional Hospital.

He could not be transferred to Panama City because of heavy rains in recent days. President Juan Carlos Varela lamented Zapata’s death and called him a hero. The dentist was one of four people who tried to rescue José Castillo, the 68 year old driver of the truck, and his  son 19, of the same name, who was a passenger. Amilcar Espinoza, director of the Changuinola Prison, Diogenes Bellido, a nursing technician, and José Díaz, a driver, also tried to rescue the people inside the truck.

All were severely burned when the truck exploded.