Hit and run killing suspect caught

THE SUSPECT who rented the car that was involved in the hit and run death of Panamanian competitive cyclist Monica Licona has been captured.

The National Police reported on Saturday, September 2, that  Jaen Chérigo 24, was found hiding in a space between the ceiling and the roof of a house   in the Las Perlas neighborhood of  Santiago, Veraguas province.

A $10,000 reward had been posted by the dead woman’s family.

Licona, 22,was on the way to a practice session with her sister on Sunday September 20 when she was struck and killed on Avenida Balaboa in front of the Miramar Intercontinental Hotel, near Parque Uracca. Her sister was injured.

The rented vehicle involved in the inicident 6.45 am incident, sped away and was found abandoned on Avenida Mexico, an hour later.

The death of the champion cyclist  led to  protests and demands for better protection of  pedestrians and cyclists on Panama’s roads.  With around 141 traffic accidents every day of the year, the casualty  toll for 2015  is  fast approaching the annual average of 400.