Santiago de los Caballeros.— A motorcyclist died after being seriously injured when the motorcycle he was riding crashed into a car on Jacagua Avenue, in front of the Ministry of Public Works offices, in Santiago.
The victim was identified as Fraclin Tejada, who suffered significant injuries during the collision. Although he received assistance from medical personnel of the 911 National Emergency and Security Attention System and was transported alive, he passed away while being taken to another health center in the city.
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The force of the impact left the motorcycle completely destroyed, while the front part of a black Hyundai vehicle ended up severely smashed.
Tejada’s death has caused pain and dismay among family, friends, and loved ones, who lamented the tragedy.
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Agents of the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transportation (Digesett) have initiated investigations to determine the circumstances under which the accident occurred and to establish the corresponding responsibilities.
Motorcyclists account for the majority of road deaths
Tejada’s passing occurs in a country where motorcycles represent the main means of transport associated with deaths recorded in traffic accidents.
According to the 2024 Yearbook of Accidental and Violent Death Statistics from the National Statistics Office (ONE), 1,961 deaths from traffic accidents were recorded that year, categorized by the mode of transport the victim was using. Of that figure, 1,391 involved people traveling on motorcycles or mopeds, equivalent to 70.93% of the total.
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Pedestrians struck by vehicles represented another significant group, with 272 deaths, while people traveling in cars recorded 122 fatalities.
The trend is also reflected in the data from recent years. According to the ONE compendium, deaths recorded in traffic accidents at the scene of the incident increased from 1,737 in 2020 to 2,161 in 2024. During that period, victims traveling on motorcycles or scooters went from 1,240 to 1,522.
Santiago among the provinces with the highest number of deaths
Santiago also presents a significant figure within the national landscape. In 2024, 171 deaths in traffic accidents at the scene of the event were recorded in the province, according to data from the ONE. Of these, 111 were related to crashes or collisions, while others corresponded to run-overs, rollovers, falls, skidding, and other types of accidents.
Official records thus show that collisions and the use of motorcycles constitute a significant part of the road safety problem in the country.
A predominantly male issue
Road mortality also shows a marked difference by sex. In 2024, of the 2,161 deaths recorded in traffic accidents at the scene of the event, 1,890 were men and 260 were women, while in 11 cases the sex was not declared.
These data place traffic accidents among the main factors of external mortality in the Dominican Republic and reflect the particularly high impact they have on men and motorcycle users.
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The case of Fraclin Tejada once again highlights an issue that continues to claim lives on the country’s streets and avenues, while authorities investigate the specific circumstances of the collision that occurred in Santiago.
The situation gains greater relevance due to the growth of the motorcycle fleet and its use as the main means of transport for thousands of Dominicans. Their ease of access and lower cost compared to other vehicles have made motorcycles a frequent alternative, but they also leave their drivers more exposed in the event of a collision, due to the absence of a structure to protect them from impact.
Road safety specialists have pointed out that factors such as speeding, reckless driving, alcohol consumption, failure to obey traffic signs, and improper use of protective equipment can increase the risk of suffering serious injuries or dying on the roads. Added to this are the conditions of some streets and avenues, as well as the coexistence of vehicles of different sizes and speeds.
The high mortality rate of motorcyclists maintains the challenge of strengthening prevention and road safety policies. The correct use of helmets, respect for speed limits, greater oversight, and driver education are some of the measures that can contribute to reducing the number of tragedies on the country’s roads and urban streets.
