Drunk drivers have caused 42 deaths in Bogota this year, said a police commander Monday.
Edgar Velandia, commander of the Bogota Transit Police, reported that every weekend there are approximately 350 to 400 intoxicated drivers detained in Colombia’s capital. So far this year, 42 people who were either the drivers or the victims have been killed because of drunk driving.
Just this past Sunday morning two people were hurt after a Bogota police officer hit them while driving in Sibate of the central Cundinamarca department. The officer appeared intoxicated and authorities are advancing investigations to determine charges and whether or not the police member was driving drunk or not. The two people were transferred to a nearby clinic for care.
According to Velandia, the average amount of drunk driver arrests have increased by 80% from last year, when approximately 100 to 110 intoxicated drivers were detained per weekend.
The most common arrests are of drunk drivers between the ages of 20 and 30 years old.