Truckers from different northern communes such as Antofagasta, Coquimbo, Iquique, Pozo Almonte and Arica mobilized Thursday night, blocking several highways, following the murder of a carrier, a crime for which 3 Venezuelans have been arrested.
A group of truck drivers staged a demonstration in Antofagasta, hours following a colleague was killed, following a fight with Venezuelan citizens, who are accused of the trucker’s homicide.
The demonstration began at around 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, when truckers cut off Route 1 near Antofagasta, in protest of the murder of the driver, assuring that the situation of insecurity has increased in recent weeks.
In this way, regarding 250 trucks have blocked the passage through this road.
At this time: Route 1 is completely closed in connection with Route B-400 in #Antofagasta with a total stoppage of truckers.
This, following the death of one of his colleagues at the hands of two undocumented Venezuelan citizens. @biobio pic.twitter.com/4aL9CeBxUr
– Gustavo Cabrera (@gustavo1cabrera) February 10, 2022
But the situation was not just Antofagastabut also in other communes in the north, such as Arica -where they blocked the southern entrance- Iquique -where they put machines on the route that connects that commune with Pozo Almonte, or in Coquimbowhere carriers mobilized in rejection of this crime.
Carriers protest at the southern entrance to Arica following the murder of a truck driver in Antofagasta. pic.twitter.com/gNW82rA9jl
– BioBioChile (@biobio) February 11, 2022
#IQUIQUE 23:40#Truck Strike
BLOCKADE in Pozo Almonte, Route 5 North cut off towards Arica and Calama. Connections to mining operations are also limited. Trucks crossed on the road and demonstration of carriers… @biobio pic.twitter.com/NLKuEu2Iqy– Cristián Nuñez Fica (@ HombredeRadio) February 11, 2022
They also do it now at the north exit of Coquimbo
Both tracks completely blocked already 45 min approx pic.twitter.com/ByaL9dEziI– JohnJohn ™ (@John_UC_) February 11, 2022
The truck driver’s murder occurred this Thursday morning, when his body was found near the level crossing of the Antofagasta Airport. Hours later, two people of Venezuelan nationality were arrested for this crime.
According to the police investigation, the trucker who was heading from Mejillones to Antofagasta, when he was surprised by some migrants who started throwing stones at him. Something that has become common in recent months in the city.
At that moment, the man gets out of his vehicle and begins to verbally confront these subjects. However, he is hit in the back with a blunt force and is then thrown from this underpass, where he is eventually found dead.
