A former Carabineros officer has been placed in pretrial detention after causing a traffic accident while driving under the influence of alcohol in Rancagua, O’Higgins Region. The individual, who is no longer with the police force, collided with another vehicle and subsequently fled the scene, attempting to cover up his involvement by filing a false report claiming his car had been stolen.
The incident occurred early last Friday morning, around 6:40 a.m., according to reports from La Tercera. The defendant allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of Brasil and Rubio streets, striking another car.
As a result of the collision, the driver of the second vehicle sustained serious injuries. Due to the severity of their condition, the victim had to be rushed to the Clínica Fusat for emergency medical treatment.
Following the crash, the then-officer fled the scene in an attempt to evade legal consequences. According to BioBioChile, the man filed a report alleging his vehicle had been stolen—a claim that was later debunked by police investigations, which established his direct involvement in the accident.
At the time of his arrest, reports regarding his blood alcohol level varied. BioBioChile reported a breathalyzer test result of 0.5 grams of alcohol per liter of blood, while La Tercera reported a reading of 0.85 grams per liter.
The Rancagua Court formally charged the former officer with multiple offenses, including driving under the influence resulting in serious injury, obstruction of justice, failure to render aid to a victim, and failure to report the accident to authorities. Pretrial detention was ordered on the grounds that the defendant poses a danger to public safety.
A 45-day investigation period has been set for the judicial process. The Cachapoal Prefecture of Carabineros confirmed that the man has been dismissed from the institution and that an administrative inquiry has been launched to investigate his conduct.
In a statement, the institution announced that all relevant information has been handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Carabineros also reaffirmed its stance on the matter, stating: “We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy toward any act that violates the law, endangers the safety of individuals, or undermines public trust.”
