René Marquetti, a Cuban who had recently moved to Costa Rica with his wife in search of a better life, met a tragic end on Wednesday when a trailer container crushed him while he was working on Route 32 in Limón Province.
As reported by La Teja, Marquetti was employed by the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), which is responsible for the road expansion project. The trailer, moving at high speed, lost control and overturned, causing the container to fall onto the workers present at the site.
The accident was fatal for both Marquetti and his colleague, Didier García Brenes, a 53-year-old Costa Rican from Jicaral de Puntarenas. CRHoy described García Brenes as a hardworking and well-loved individual in his community.
Yordanys Tamayo, Marquetti's nephew, shared with La Teja that his uncle had fled "a dictatorship that oppressed him" and had sought refuge in Costa Rica alongside his wife, hoping to start anew. "He had only been here for two months... and just one month working for the company," Tamayo lamented.
Another survivor, Roberto Barrantes, recounted to the same outlet how the container nearly crushed him, and he only survived by jumping into a ditch. "It was like God told me, 'Jump there, that's where you'll fit,'" he recalled, still shaken by the incident.
Traffic authorities suspect that excessive speed was a contributing factor to the accident, and the case is currently under investigation by the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).
Family members and coworkers have expressed their sorrow over the loss of both workers. "We will remember him as the best person there was; everyone who knew him will speak well of him," said Marquetti's nephew, who also confirmed that the family is gathering funds to repatriate René's body to Cuba, fulfilling their wish to bury him in his homeland.
FAQs About the Tragic Accident in Costa Rica
What caused the trailer to overturn in Costa Rica?
Authorities suspect that the accident was caused by excessive speed, leading the trailer to lose control and overturn.
Who was René Marquetti?
René Marquetti was a Cuban immigrant who had recently moved to Costa Rica with his wife in search of a better life. He was working for the China Harbour Engineering Company at the time of the accident.
How is the family of René Marquetti handling the situation?
The family is grieving the loss and is currently raising funds to repatriate Marquetti's body to Cuba for burial.