THE DEATHS of three  men in an early morning traffic accident in Los Santos province  brought the total of highway deaths to 102 in the first 72 days of the year.

The grim statistic puts Panama on track to exceed  the tragic total of 440  in 2016..

The  latest incident  took place in Las Tablas-Pocrí, near the entrance to  La Palma.

The victims were the driver Juan Gabriel Ponce, 31, César Julián Sánchez Días, 34, and Jorge Luis Sánchez Días, 21. They had reportedly left a cantina shortly before the fatal accident.

Investigations are continuing but authorities believe that alcohol and speed were the cause of the accident. The vehicle was completely destroyed