One dead, one badly hurt in patrol launch collision

A collision between a National Aeronaval Service (Senan) patrol launch and a boat with an outboard motor caused the death of Eduardo Prestán, 25, the boat owner, and sent a young woman to hospital with serious injuries.

The incident occurred at 10.53 pm on Saturday, August 17,  when Prestan was traveling from the community of Garrote to the Isla Grande sector. Unofficial versions claim the patrol vessel passed over the smaller boat.

The young woman was taken to the emergency room of the Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero hospital complex, where she remains in serious condition.

Senan reported an accident between a patrol boat doing surveillance work near the La Guaira Isla Grande, district of Portobelo, and a boat that was traveling without a navigation light.