San Cristóbal.- Owners of Vidal Plast are declared not guilty by the Second Collegiate Court of San Cristóbal in the proceedings related to the explosion that occurred on August 14, 2023, a tragedy that left 38 people dead and dozens injured.
The decision favored Edward Armando Vidal Garrido, his wife Maribel Sandoval Almánzar, and his daughter Mercedes Altagracia Vidal, owners of the company Vidal Plast, who had been charged by the Public Prosecutor’s Office following the incident.
Judge Wilma Altagracia Cuello ordered the acquittal of the three defendants during the hearing held by the court.
Victims’ relatives support decision
After the verdict was announced, relatives of those affected by the tragedy expressed their support for the judicial decision, considering that the members of the Vidal family were not responsible for the events for which they were prosecuted.
The relatives requested the authorities to conduct a new investigation to determine who was responsible for the event.
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They also questioned the investigation carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and maintained that the authorities must expand the inquiries to other people who, according to their position, could have been related to the case.
The relatives indicated that they hope a new investigation will allow for responsibilities to be established and the circumstances that caused the explosion to be clarified.
The decision by which the owners of Vidal Plast are declared not guilty comes three years after the incident that affected a commercial area of San Cristóbal.
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Accusation against Vidal Plast
The Public Ministry had filed charges against Vidal Plast after the explosion recorded in August 2023.
In response to the accusation, the company rejected the responsibility attributed by the authorities since that year and explained that it was a family business dedicated since 2003 to the purchase, sale, and recycling of plastic materials to transform them into raw material.
The company maintained then that its operations did not require fuels or other substances that, according to its position, could have caused an explosion.
Vidal Plast also pointed out that only plastic materials remained in the establishment and denied that there were any elements in its facilities capable of generating an event of the characteristics recorded that day.
Those approaches were part of the public position assumed by the company regarding the accusations made against it.
Explosion occurred in August 2023
The event that gave rise to the judicial process occurred around 3:10 in the afternoon on August 14, 2023, in San Cristóbal.
The epicenter was located in an establishment situated on Padre Ayala street, near the corner with J. Peynado.
According to the explanations provided by the firefighters after the incident, a deflagration occurred that generated shock waves towards the sides and the roof of the building.
The explosion and subsequent fire caused damage to structures located in the surrounding area and required the intervention of emergency agencies.
Explosion left 38 dead and 59 injured
The toll of the accident was 38 people dead and 59 injured, with wounds that were classified from mild to severe.
Material damage also reached more than 12 homes and at least 70 commercial establishments in the area.
The magnitude of the consequences led to investigations to determine the origin of the explosion and establish possible criminal liabilities.
Three years after the fact, the owners of Vidal Plast are declared not guilty, while relatives of the victims demand that the authorities resume investigations to determine the causes of the incident and identify those who could be responsible for what happened.
