Ford Mustang driver runs over two cyclist brothers and flees; one victim dies

A tragic traffic accident shook the city of Neiva, Colombia, in the early hours of November 3, 2024. At 5:35 a.m., two cyclists, brothers Juan Carlos García Sastoque and César Augusto García Sastoque, were hit by a red Ford Mustang car while they were doing their usual sports practice on Avenida Circunvalar, at the height of Carrera 7W with Calle 25E, in the Rodrigo Lara neighborhood.

The impact left Juan Carlos, a well-known businessman and partner in a bicycle store, dead at the scene. His brother César, who was about to celebrate his birthday, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the Medilaser clinic, where he remains in critical condition with a reserved prognosis. The accident occurred in an area known to be frequented by athletes.

Authorities identified the driver as Sergio Israel Rojas Serrano, 31, a university professor and Super Transport official, with training in Chemical and Environmental Engineering and a master's degree in Civil Engineering. Rojas Serrano, who had already been involved in a traffic incident in 2022, had accumulated fines totaling 80 million pesos and had his license suspended until 2049. According to reports, at the time of the accident, the vehicle did not have a valid SOAT.

Witnesses stated that, after the impact, the driver and his three companions fled in a gray Nissan, neglecting their duty to assist the victims. Weymar Muñoz, Juan Carlos' brother-in-law and witness to the incident, mentioned that Rojas was traveling at high speed and in an apparent state of intoxication. A video published by Evelyn Palencia, the car's co-pilot, even showed moments before the accident, with the phrase "drinking alcohol or fear?" in reference to the consumption of alcohol.

The incident has unleashed a strong clamor for justice in Neiva. The population and the victims' families have demanded a quick action by the Prosecutor's Office and the Traffic Police to issue an arrest warrant against the alleged perpetrator.

The investigations continue, supported by the testimonies of witnesses and the collection of evidence such as recordings and statements from the driver of the tractor-trailer involved. So far, the authorities are waiting for the corresponding court order to be issued to proceed with the arrest of Rojas Serrano.