THREE people were run over and killed in three successive days in Chiriqui last week bringing the province’s death toll so far this year to  27, up from 13   in the same period last year with drunk drivers playing an increasing role in the slaughter.

The  Chiriqui deaths znd two others, one in Capira and another in Colon raise the national casualty figure to 224 while hundreds more with serious injuries are putting additional strain on the country’s overstretched hospitals.

Roberto Armando Becker, 35, , died early Sunday, August 19 after being hit by a pickup,  while using a marked crossing near the women’s prison in Dolega. on the road from David to Boquete

Commissioner Elmer Castillo, head of the Subdirectorate of Traffic Operations (SDOT), said that everything seems to indicate that there was excessive speed because there is a marked pedestrian crossing on the pavement.

“This makes our work seem in vain. Yesterday 29  speeding tickets were issued on this stretch of road. We had breathalyzer devices at this point, in the Caldera checkpoint, and in Dolega to Potrerillos, as it was the patronal feast and 34 drivers were charged with impaired driving" said Castillo.