 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
  |
Published
Friday, March 6, 2020
Trial approaching in tourist raft deaths By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Quepos Prosecutor's Office announced the beginning of the trial process against three suspects in a rafting mishap where four U.S. citizen tourists died in 2018. Rafting is a recreational outdoor activity which uses an inflatable raft to navigate a rough water river. Dealing with risk and the need for teamwork is often a part of the experience. The four U.S. citizens killed in the rafting accident in Quepos, Puntarenas Province, were identified as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo, and Andrés Dennis. The other victim was the Costa Rican tour guide, identified as Kevin Thompson. The Prosecutor opens the accusation against three men, two of them surnamed Contreras-Martínez, and another surnamed Pessoa-Calvo. They are suspected of having caused a the mishap during the rafting tour where the four U.S. citizens died. The two men surnamed Contreras-Martínez worked as tour guides. The other accused Pessoa-Calvo is a representative of the expedition company named Kepoa, based in Manuel Antonio, said Luis Diego Hernández Araya, deputy prosecutor of Puntarenas. According to the investigation, the events occurred Oct. 20, 2018, at 3:00 p.m., when the accused conducted an excursion with the group of U.S. tourists in the rapids of the Naranjo River in Quepos, Puntarenas. The Prosecutor's office contends that the three men were aware of the weather conditions making rafting on the Naranjo River risky. "Allegedly, five minutes after the navigation began the rafts in which the victims traveled overturned, and people were dragged by the current," said the prosecutor. "According to the accusation, four tourists died as a result of suffocation asphyxiation." According to the prosecutor, Contreras-Martínez was on a raft, and he had to rescue people if any eventuality occurred. However, the prosecutor said he obtained evidence that indicated that during the accident two other tourists asked for help, but Contreras-Martínez refused to rescue them. It is believed the survivors had to swim to the shore to save their lives. Evidence collected led to an investigation against the three suspects who are allegedly responsible for committing the crime, technically called shipwreck. Contreras-Martínez also is charged with the crime of omission of help. According to the Criminal Code: Article No.144, omission of aid is "Finding a child under 10 years of age, or an injured person or a person threatened with any danger, lost or helpless, and failing to provide necessary assistance according to the circumstances, as long as it can be done without personal risk." Also, the code qualifies in the Article No. 258 the penalty for causing a shipwreck. ". . . imprisonment of two to six years for someone who, knowingly, executes any act that endangers the safety of a ship, floating construction, or air transport. If the event produces a shipwreck, stranding, or air disaster, the penalty shall be six to 12 years in prison. If the accident causes injury to any person, the penalty will be six to 15 years in prison, and if it causes death, it will be in prison for eight to 18 years. " In the next few days, the Quepos Criminal Court is expected to set the date on which the trial will take place. In November 2018, one of the survivors Luis Beltran and friends gave an interview to Good Morning America TV show, describing the death of his four friends. The interview can be seen at the ABC news channel site. ----------------------------------- Should Tourism authorities increase security measures guidelines in risky natural activities for tourists? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
        |
 |
Relocation
Tours
(paid
category)
|
|||||||
|
U.S.
Income Tax & Accounting
(paid category)
|
|||||||
 |
•
Reporting foreign financial assets: FBAR and
foreign corporations.
• Up-to-date FATCA news.
• All US Tax return preparation:
individual, business, estate and trust.
• eFile returns: secure with faster refunds.
• Business
consulting to facilitate working in Costa Rica
|
||||||
Real
Estate Agents & Services
(paid category)
|
|||||||
 |
Link
to Playas del Coco listings page HERE
Link to Playa Panama listings page HERE Link to Playa Hermosa listings page HERE Link to Peninsula Papagayo listings page HERE Link to Playa Matapalo listings page HERE Free tour to A.M. Costa
Rica's readers
CR office phone: 506 - 2672-0707 CR cell phone: 506-8867-6929 Toll Free 1-877-293-1456 Email: michael@costarica-realestate.com Code:9174-020719 |
||||||
Shipping
Services
(paid category)
Household
Furnishings
(paid category)
|
|||||||
 |
  |
