Q COSTARICA — On Wednesday morning, people woke up to shocking scenes: a pickup truck slammed right into the León Cortés monument on the east side of Parque Metropolitano La Sabana.
The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. The driver, a 19 year-old man with the last name Araico, seen in video footage later that day, was speeding the wrong way down Paseo Colón. He nearly hit a bus, tore through a traffic light, crashed into a concrete structure, and finally slammed into the lion statue, ending up crumpled against the monument.
The statue took a serious hit, especially the lion figure and part of its supporting base.
The driver survived and is now in stable condition at San Juan de Dios Hospital, less than a kilometer from the scene. But his troubles are far from over. He’s looking at millions colones in damages for destroying the traffic light and the monument, which is a protected heritage site. On top of that, he could face one to two years in prison under Article 20 of Law 7555, which protects Costa Rica’s historical and architectural heritage.
That law applies here because the monument was declared a heritage site back in 2001.
The Ministry of Culture and Youth, through its communications office, said the Directorate of Cultural Heritage will assess the damage and file a formal complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Once that complaint is in, the legal system will open a case against the driver.
Martín Sánchez, head of the Traffic Police, said the driver didn’t get a breathalyzer test right after the crash due to his condition.
“The court will later request the results of any tests done at the hospital. The Traffic Police can’t get those results directly from the hospital,” Sánchez explained.
He pointed out four possible causes for the crash:
- Speeding
- Fatigue
- Alcohol or drugs
- Mechanical failure.
The traffic accident was one of around 200 that occur every day throughout the country; This means that an accident is attended to every 6 to 7 minutes on average nationwide.
Key Statistics (2025-2026 Data)
- Daily Fatalities: On average, approximately 1.5 people die each day in road traffic accidents. These are only the deaths at the scene.
- 2025 ended with a total of 572 road fatalities.
- In the first two months of 2026 alone, the Red Cross has already responded to more than 7,600 traffic-related incidents.
- Injuries: During 2025, the number of people injured increased by 15%, resulting in more than 52,000 injuries annually.
Main Causes and Factors
- Speeding: This is the leading cause of death on Costa Rican roads.
- Motorcycles: These continue to be the vehicle with the highest incidence of fatalities, representing more than 50% of on-site deaths.
- Critical Areas: San José, Alajuela, and Puntarenas typically register the highest number of annual deaths.
For detailed and up-to-date reports by region, you can consult the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI)—Road Safety Council or the reports from the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT)—Ministry of Public Works and Transportation website.