SANTIAGO, Chile — Several people were killed and others were injured Sunday after an off-duty Chilean navy officer driving a private vehicle crashed into a crowded open-air market in the coastal city of Viña del Mar, authorities said.
Chile’s navy confirmed the driver was an off-duty service member and said it was cooperating with investigators to determine what caused the crash.
Driver Detained After Market Crash
According to the navy, the vehicle plowed into the market, killing several people and injuring others with varying degrees of severity.
Officials did not immediately release a confirmed death toll. However, local media reported that at least six people were killed.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show the vehicle crashing through market stalls. Other footage showed police escorting the driver away as angry bystanders shouted and chased after him.
Police detained the driver, who remains the only person in custody in connection with the incident.
Investigation Underway
Interior Undersecretary Máximo Pavez said the driver tested negative in a breathalyzer test.
Col. Jorge Guaita, police prefect for Viña del Mar, said the driver told investigators he could not remember what happened.
“The cause of the incident has not yet been determined,” Guaita told reporters.
According to witness statements cited by police, the vehicle was traveling in the correct direction but at a high speed before mounting the sidewalk.
It then spun before crashing into a bus shelter, which brought it to a stop.
“Fortunately, the bus stop brought it to a halt. Otherwise, it might have continued forward and caused even more damage,” Guaita said.
Meanwhile, some witnesses told local media the driver may have lost control after colliding with another vehicle.
Injured Remain in Stable Condition
Officials at Gustavo Fricke Hospital said five injured people, including two babies, were admitted with traumatic injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Two other injured people received treatment and were later discharged.
“At this stage of the evaluation, they are stable and out of life-threatening danger, but of course they are still awaiting the completion of all the examinations required in these cases,” said Denise Cataldo, the hospital’s deputy director.
Emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters and paramedics, treated numerous victims at the scene.
President Expresses Condolences
President José Antonio Kast said the tragedy had left the country in mourning.
“The entire country” is mourning, Kast wrote on X, adding that state institutions were working to assist victims and determine responsibility for the crash.
The Caupolicán market, located in the upper part of Viña del Mar, operates every Thursday and Sunday. It includes more than 1,000 stalls and numerous informal vendors, attracting large crowds.
Authorities continue investigating what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and crash into the busy marketplace.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: Chile | Viña del Mar | Traffic Accident | Public Safety | Latin America | Emergency Response
