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Peru citizens riot & block highway after children killed in traffic accident

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

After two children were hit and killed by a speeding vehicle as they attempted to cross a highway in the region of Lima, citizens took to the streets and blocked the highway early Wednesday morning.

10-year-old Luis Guiordy Anaya and his seven-year-old sister Jackeline were killed on Tuesday evening after they were hit by Juan Carlos Calderón, the driver of a gray Kia.

The accident sparked neighbors' rage, who decided to block the 13th and 14th kilometers of Carretera Central in the Limean district of Santa Clara.

With rocks and sticks in hand, citizens have burnt tires on the highway and broken holes in the street, causing a tremendous traffic jam with hundreds of vehicles.

Furthermore, it was reported that bus passengers got off vehicles and walked to their destinations.

"They've destroyed my family, my life won't be the same without my children," said Luis and Jackeline's mother as she demanded that justice be served.

Despite the fact that the driver has been detained, mobs were formed and Carretera Central was blocked for hours.

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# jb says :
22 October, 2008 [ 12:17 ]

This is a sad and lamentable story.  However, I often see adults - WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN HAND - darting across the highways DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES!!!!!   There is no notation in this article as to whether this was the case in this story.  Recent articles in The Comercio have also noted that a majority of the pedestrian deaths/injuries are caused by imprudent behavior on behalf of the pedestrian. 

# Curtis says :
22 October, 2008 [ 16:55 ]

Yes, I agree a very sad story, and if they were in the right or wrong is not important now. It is just two young children gone to early.

What make me angry through is that people believe that by rioting is a just way to protest this accident. Grown people breaking the law and for what reason? Yes, protest if you feel it is important but to riot is criminal and people should be behind bars for insiting this.

All it does is take money away from needy people inorder to fix and repair damages caused by these riots.

# David N says :
22 October, 2008 [ 17:29 ]

Pity the family members and the children, but how can anybody allow their a 10 and a 7 year old to cross a busy highway?

Also, Peruvian drivers must be among the worst in the world.  They will run you over without a thought other than if their car perhaps got a scratch.  There is no regard or respect for human life on the roads of Peru.

# Martin says :
22 October, 2008 [ 18:14 ]

It is time that the police issue and enforce payment of tickets to pedistrians and drivers that break the law. The police simply stand by and do nothing other than encourage the cars to drive faster to lessen the horrible traffic jams. Not much hope for improvement until laws are enforced.

# David says :
22 October, 2008 [ 18:46 ]

If a cross walk is near by the children or parents are at fault completly. a driver does not expect a child or anything for that matter to suddenly appear in the road way. And at 50 or more miles per hour it is unsafe to even attempt to avoid an accedent by changing lanes or slaming on the breaks.

If there is no cross walk with in a reasonable distance the people are acting as the government should by demanding one be put in place.

# Fred Smithsenburgerstein says :
22 October, 2008 [ 19:21 ]

Typical.  While this is a tragedy who are the Peruvians mad at?  Is it the driver's fault that at night 2 small children run across a highway?  Where were the parents?  That is who needs to be arrested.  Peru is a ridiculous country.

# Sylvia Jerdan says :
22 October, 2008 [ 21:06 ]

 I just came back from Peru about two weeks ago after an absence of about 4 years.  I traveled from Piura to Lima with my  handicapped 90 year old grandmother on a wheel chair.  I stayed in Miraflores, and tried to take her to the Indian Market in Miraflores.  I was shocked at the lack of respect the drivers had; even while we obeyed the pedestrian light, they still did not wait and were rude with their horns .  Peru needs to obey the lanes, the traffic lights.  The traffic situation is horrendous, loud, and no respect to the pedestrian. As a tourist one can not enjoy the beauty of Peru when you are constantly on edge when in a taxi, private car, or bus.  The imprudent behavior of the pedestrian is because they have no choice when the traffic does not obey the stop signs, lights or anything in Peru.  If they would just follow the rules, traffic would move more efficiently and less tragedy.

# Splaktar says :
22 October, 2008 [ 23:15 ]

The police repeatedly fail to enfoce the pedestrian and traffic laws.  It is solely their responsibilty to do this work.  It is their job.  They fail and it costs Peruvians their lives and the lives of their children.

On the same note, yes the parents shouldn't let their children cross the road alone at that age, but in Peru most parents work 1-2 jobs and just leave the kids to fend for themselves most of the day.  Many are forced to work the streets instead of going to school.  They beg for handouts and if they don't bring home enough, they get beaten.

I stop for pedestrians crossing the road and people honk their horns at me like crazy.  I stop for red lights and people honk their horns at me like crazy.  I watch people run red lights right in front of traffic cops and they do nothing.  Half the time they are talking to other cops or sending messages on their cell phone.  They could care less about people's safety as long as they get paid.

I've seen a number of traffic cops sleeping as well.

# dianahene says :
23 October, 2008 [ 00:48 ]

Esto es una irresponsabilidad muy grande a la institucion q le compete
la seguridad de los peatones, no solo deberian hacer paros sino demandarlos por ser los culpables directos de esas muertes reaccionar cuendo hay muertes es pasar la mano a la franela y pasar por alto la
incompetensia y la insensibilidad de estos disque servidores de la patria.

# Rachel says :
23 October, 2008 [ 13:36 ]

This is my first year driving in Lima and one thing I noticed my first day on the road is that you have to be very cognitive of the drivers AND pedestrians.

There are layers of issues that contribute to these tragedies, but the facts remains that Lima's transportation system and laws are antiquated.

I respect the traffic laws and I don't mind if someone honks at me for letting another pedestrian cross the street safely, or for stopping at a traffic light or at a stop sign or if I happen not to block an intersection. Their honking doesn't get them anywhere faster anyway.

I honked at a guy the other day for running a red light and subsequently blocking the intersection and he looked at me like I was out of my mind when I was the one with the green arrow to turn.

As far as driving goes, it is the taxi drivers and bus drivers that are the biggest law breakers!

That's Lima for you!

# Sylvia Jerdan says :
23 October, 2008 [ 14:29 ]

Ok, we have vented !  I hope Living in Peru will at least forward these comments to the appropriate persons in the police department, or to whom ever and start enforcing some order.  From a hotel at the 10th floor looking down at the traffic, it is wonder no more people are killed, or even a wonder that they get anywhere since everyone wants to be in the same spot.  The three lane roads become six lanes, the honking at every corner to let the other driver know they were there first, even if they have a light or a stop sign.  The driver and pedestrian need common courtesy, and respect for each other, and that is only going to happen with someone enforcing the law and not abusing their power, or taking bribes if a ticket is issued.  Good luck ,and let these few people that have taken their time to comment  on this isssue, know what was done and if went any further than this.

# Rachel says :
23 October, 2008 [ 16:59 ]

These comments can be forwarded, but it's ultimately up to the press to push the issue and suggest the changes, otherwise it's like talking to a brick wall with the government.

That's the way Peru works, unfortunately. It's the individual before the common good of the country.

# diana says :
24 October, 2008 [ 15:11 ]

We belive things are gona change for better, with the new Prime Minister sayind: with a little help of everybody,  I have hope,
this is what  I read in a  El Peruano newspaper a few days ago
what we need in the goberment is people really envolved in  social
issues instead  of looking as a step to make business.

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