A fatal incident occurred in the coastal Chilean city of Vina del Mar on Sunday when a private vehicle driven by an off-duty member of the Chilean navy plowed into an open-air market. The Chilean navy confirmed the event in an official statement, noting that the crash resulted in the deaths of several people and left others with varying degrees of injuries. While the navy did not specify an exact death toll, local media reports have indicated that at least six people lost their lives.
Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Col. Jorge Guaita, the police prefect for Vina del Mar, stated that the driver claimed to have no memory of the incident, and the specific cause remains under determination. According to witness accounts cited by Guaita, the vehicle was traveling in the correct direction of traffic at a high rate of speed before it mounted the sidewalk and began to spin. The vehicle was eventually brought to a halt by a bus stop, a factor that officials noted likely prevented further casualties.
Footage from a residential security camera, which has been circulating on social media, appears to capture the vehicle as it crashes into the market stalls. Other videos show the driver being escorted to a police vehicle while being pursued by angry bystanders. Chilean President José Antonio Kast addressed the tragedy on X, stating that the incident has left the entire country in mourning. He added that all relevant state institutions are working to support those affected and to ensure full clarity regarding the responsibilities for the event.
