The short version
- El Nuevo Día reported a 21-year-old cyclist is in guarded condition after being hit by a vehicle on PR-417 in Aguada early Friday
- Primera Hora reported the cyclist is in critical condition after the collision at kilometer 2 of PR-417 around 2:35 a.m. Friday
- Both outlets reported the driver was a 23-year-old man operating a 2018 Hyundai Elantra who tested at 0.000 percent blood alcohol
- Police attributed the crash to the cyclist crossing without due precautions and said the Aguadilla highway patrol is investigating with prosecutors
Collision details
A 21-year-old cyclist was seriously injured when struck by a car in the Malpaso neighborhood of Aguada early Friday, El Nuevo Día reported. The incident occurred on PR-417 at kilometer 2.0, according to the same report.
Primera Hora identified the cyclist as Esteven Gómez Muñoz, 21, and the driver as César Mercado Santana, 23, both residents of Aguada. The driver was operating a cream-colored 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The bicycle was a gray Huffy brand. The collision happened around 2:35 a.m. Friday, the outlet reported, though police did not release details until Saturday.
Also on PuertoRico.com: Aguada travel guide
Investigation
According to both reports, the cyclist crossed the road without taking proper precautions, and the front of the car struck the left side of the bicycle. The cyclist fell to the pavement and sustained serious injuries. He was taken to Hospital Buen Samaritano in Aguadilla.
El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora both reported that a breathalyzer test administered to the driver gave a reading of 0.000 percent blood alcohol. The Aguadilla Highway Patrol Division, specifically agent Daniel Escobar, is investigating along with prosecutor Shaquille Mercado, Primera Hora stated.
Where the sources differ
Both El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora agree that the collision occurred early Friday on PR-417 in Malpaso, Aguada, that the cyclist crossed without due care, that the front of the Hyundai Elantra struck the left side of the bicycle, that the cyclist fell and was seriously injured, and that the driver registered 0.000 percent on a breathalyzer test. El Nuevo Día described the cyclist's condition as "cuidado" (guarded/critical) while Primera Hora used both "crítica" and "de cuidado." Primera Hora provided the exact time of 2:35 a.m., the full names and ages of both individuals, the bicycle brand and color, the exact investigating agent and prosecutor names, and noted the delay in publicizing the incident until Saturday. El Nuevo Día did not include those details.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the current condition of the cyclist beyond the initial guarded or critical description, whether he remains hospitalized, the precise nature of his injuries, or any potential citations or charges against either party. They also do not indicate whether witnesses were present or what, if any, traffic controls exist at that section of PR-417.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Ciclista de 21 años queda en condición de cuidado tras ser impactado en Aguada
- Reporting En condición crítica ciclista atropellado en Aguada
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora both covered the traffic collision in Aguada based on police information. Details such as the names, exact time, and specific investigators rest solely on the Primera Hora account while the general description of the crash mechanism is shared by both.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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