A recent national celebration, known as the Night of Nostalgia, saw many people out enjoying festivities. Sadly, the holiday weekend also brought tragic news to the roads. Authorities reported two deaths and many injuries from various traffic incidents. This all happened during a special national operation designed to make driving safer.
The National Road Safety Unit, or Unasev, released a first look at the situation on Monday at midday. Their report covered the period from August 24 to August 25, when the celebrations took place across the country. It highlighted the immediate outcomes of the traffic controls.
According to this preliminary summary, gathered up to 8 AM on Monday morning, officers conducted a large number of alcohol breath tests. They checked 15,467 drivers in total. Out of these, 326 drivers tested positive for alcohol, which means about 2.1% of those checked were driving under the influence. On top of that, another 369 drivers were tested for marijuana use (THC). Twenty-eight of these tests came back positive.
The report, compiled from information sent by local governments and traffic police up to 7 AM on Monday, August 25, also listed traffic accidents. There were 22 accidents recorded across the nation. These incidents led to 17 people getting minor injuries and 5 others suffering severe harm.
However, the full impact of the holiday became clearer later in the day. Shortly after the initial data cutoff, a fatal accident occurred on the Interbalnearia highway. A man was hit by a car near Salinas, which is in the Canelones region. Furthermore, officials later confirmed that one of the five people initially listed with serious injuries had passed away. This person died while receiving medical care in Paysandú.