SANTO DOMINGO.- At least two people died and one was injured during an accident that occurred Monday morning, after a tanker truck loaded with fuel caught fire on George Washington Avenue, in the National District.
The incident occurred around 6:59 a.m., when emergency services were notified of the accident. A fuel tanker truck, a car, an SUV, and a motorcycle were involved. The motorcyclist was injured.
Authorities began the recovery and extrication efforts at the accident site. During the operation, they confirmed that one body was found inside a vehicle and the other near the wrecked truck on Santo Domingo's iconic Malecón.
According to General José Luis Frómeta Herasme, head of the National District Fire Department, authorities are conducting the corresponding investigations to determine which company the tanker truck involved in the accident belongs to.
In addition, 12 fire trucks were used to extinguish the fire , whose teams used foam to mitigate the fire and prevent further spread of the flames.
New COE director arrives at the scene
The newly appointed director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), Edwin Olivares, indicated that the authorities are also carrying out the relevant investigations throughout the perimeter of the accident.
Olivares pointed out that the investigations are especially important because this area of the Malecón is frequented during the early morning hours by people who do physical activities.
So far, authorities have not identified the two deceased individuals.
