national

Deadly accident hits home in Aguadulce

8 people were killed and five were injured in a collision Saturday night on the Autopista near the Puente Centenario near Tumba Muerto.

The victims, who were from two towns in Coclé, were on their way to play in a softball game when their van was struck by a garbage truck.

IVÁN URIBE/LA PRENSA

losses: Players talking about a fatal accident on Saturday night that cancelled a tournament on Sunday. 957327

The community of Aguadulce is struggling to cope with the death of six of its residents.

They were among a total of eight people who died Saturday night on the Autopista when a garbage truck ran into a van. The other two victims were from the city of Natá. The cities are located a few miles apart in the province of Coclé.

All those who perished were members of a government softball team that was heading to Panama City to play in a tournament Sunday.

The van had just crossed the Puente Centenario and was approaching the Tumba Muerto intersection when the accident occurred.

The garbage truck was headed toward a landfill located near the Rod Carew National Stadium.

There were 13 people inside the van. They all worked for the Caja de Seguro Social, and were on their way to participate in the finals of the government-employees softball championship.

The five injured were taken to local hospitals. Two of the victims are in intensive care with serious injuries.

News of the accident spread quickly through the community of Aguadulce, which has about 25,000 residents. Family members rushed to each others homes to comfort one another.

Karina Amores, the wife of Horacio González, who was killed in the crash, said she warned her husband to be careful before he left.

"We always went everywhere together, but since the game was in Panama, he was alone," Amores said.

Police are investigating the accident, which occured near a recently-opened On the Run gas station. No charges have been filed at this point.