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Published
on Friday, October 24, 2025
By
the A.M. Costa Rica
staff
Congressman
and presidential candidate Eliécer
Feinzaig-Mintz (60) of the Liberal
Progressive Party (PLP) survived a car
crash Friday morning in Alajuela that
killed one of his campaign team members
and seriously injured his driver,
authorities said.
Feinzaig,
an economist and politician who serves as
PLP president and a lawmaker for the
2022–2026 term, is the party’s nominee for
the February 2026 national elections.
According
to Fire Department, the crash occurred
around 10:50 a.m. on
Route 1,
the Bernardo Soto Highway, near the Buenos
Aires District in Palmares Canton,
Alajuela Province.
Six
emergency units were dispatched to the
scene, where responders found two
vehicles: a heavy cargo truck and a light
pickup that had apparently collided.
The
Red Cross reported that three people were
traveling in the pickup: Feinzaig, a man
surnamed Cascante (the driver) and
campaign director Benavides-Garbanzo, 56.
According to Josué Araya, Battalion Chief, Feinzaig suffered multiple injuries but was in stable condition. The driver (Cascante), was trapped by his legs inside the vehicle and reported in serious condition. Benavides-Garbanzo was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
The
victim’s body was later transferred to the
Judicial
Morgue in
Heredia Province.
All
three survivors were transported to Carlos
Luis Valverde Vega Public Hospital in
San Ramón, Alajuela. Feinzaig’s driver
underwent emergency surgery on his legs.
Feinzaig was later airlifted to a private
hospital in San José for additional
treatment and observation.
Dr.
León de Mezerville, director of the
hospital in San José, told reporters that
Feinzaig was “in good health” and would
remain under observation for several hours
while undergoing additional medical tests.
In a
statement, the PLP said it was mourning
the loss of Benavides-Garbanzo, calling
her “one of our most beloved
collaborators.” The party said all
campaign activities are suspended
indefinitely as a sign of respect for
Benavides' family.
Authorities
said traffic police remained at the scene
after rescue operations to collect
evidence and determine the cause of the
crash.
Traffic
deaths in Costa Rica have surged this
year. As of August, there
were 389 fatalities, according to the
Ministry of Public Works and
Transportation (MOPT), up
sharply from 298 during the same period in
2024, an increase of 91 deaths.
Motorcyclists remain the most vulnerable
road users, accounting for 209 fatalities,
or 53% of the total.
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