La Critica - The accident occurring on the Bridge of the Americas early this morning already claimed its first victim. Despite efforts by paramedics, a woman who was driving a blue Chevrolet Spark license plate number 474543 died enroute to the hospital. The woman died after having been trapped in the twisted metal of her car. Three other cars were also hit and damaged when the bus from the Ciudad del Futuro route lost control in the rain. The victim was identified as Rosmery Quintero, 24 years old, who was traveling with a child. The child was taken to the Hospital del Niño in stable condition. One of the witnesses said the driver of the bus lost control due to excessive speed, colliding with the vehicles.

By Robert Durand for Panama-Guide.com - Hola Don, My reporter's background is kicking in as tonight I have gotten more news about the Sunday morning "accident" in Boquete. My wife and I were on the way to church and were delayed over 45 minutes before a detour route was opened up for traffic. It happened about 9:30 this morning on the main road about six blocks south of the center of town. Two vehicles involved, one with four drunk men, and the other a taxi with four passengers. Reports tell that the "drunk" car came roaring out of a side street at a speed some estimated at 80 k/hr. It broadsided the taxi, in a true "T-Bone" which took two wreckers and the jaws of life to pull apart in order to extract bodies. (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - A bus traveling from Panama City toward the western part of Panama Province (Arraijan and La Chorrera) has flipped over onto four cars, crushing them. This accident just happened and first responders have yet to arrive on the scene. All four lanes of the Bridge of the Americas are closed. There are people still trapped in the crushed cars. If you are on the other side of the bridge and need to come to Panama City this morning, take the Centenario bridge. It's going to take hours to clean up this accident and to reopen the bridge to traffic.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I have a question. Over the past year the average price of gas in the United States (and in Panama) has risen from about $2.80 per gallon to well over $4.00 per gallon. When those prices were rising we were told the inflationary effects were a result of the rising prices of crude and at the source and there was nothing local officials could do about it. OK, got it. Now, in the past few months the gas in the United States has dropped back down to an national average of $3.68 with indications of further drops. But, in Panama the best price for 91 unleaded remains at $3.90 per gallon according to the (really cool website) masgasolina.net. So, my obvious question is this - Why is gasoline in Panama now about .22 cents per gallon higher than gas in the United States? Anyone? Please, tell this to every cab and bus driver you run into - let them get pissed enough to force a change. Someone needs to grab the guys who control this stuff by the short ones, and yank until they wake up.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By Elmer Enrique Quintero for El Siglo - Bad weather and a disoriented pilot who did not know where he was, caused the airplane crash occurring on 23 December 2007 in Alto Chiquero in Boquete, in which two Americans and one Panamanian died and another American girl, Franchesca Lewis, miraculously survived. This, according to the official investigation into the case, as concluded and reported by the Panamanian Civil Aeronautics Authority (AAC). The three people who died in the crash were American businessman Michael Klein, his 13 year-old daughter Talía Klein, and the Panamanian pilot Edwin Lasso. The three Americans departed at 11:45 am on the morning of 23 December 2007 from Isla Seca in the Gulf of Chiriquí and flew toward the runway at Volcán in a single engine Cessna 172 with tail number HP-762, piloted by Panamanian Edwin Lasso. The aircraft was found on 25 December 2007 with Franchesca Lewis as the only survivor of the crash in what was described as a "Christmas Miracle." The Director of the Civil Aeronautics Authority in the Province of Chiriquí, Inés Esquivel, said "the report reflects that the pilot was disoriented, that he did not know where he was and that the bad weather was not in his favor, and what happened, happened."

La Prensa - The "Accidental Association of the Bridge of the Americas" partnership announced that all four lanes of the Bridge of the Americas will be closed to traffic on 1 - 4 September at night, from 9:00 pm until 4:00 am on those days. The bridge will be closed to allow the completion of repair work and rehabilitation of the superstructure. Drivers can use the Centennial Bridge as an alternate. The work and rehabilitation project, which is still in its early stages, includes the replacement of 5" bolts, the suspension cables, the repair of support beams and the cable stirrups, among others.

By Rafael Rodríguez for La Estrella - A helicopter with four people on board crash landed yesterday when trying to land at a private ranch in the community of Punta Chame, according to official sources. A spokesman from the Panamanian Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) said the accident occurred at 11:30 am yesterday morning when the helicopter with tail number HP-1314HC piloted by captain Thomas Exenberger caught fire after hitting the ground. The source said the helicopter, a Robinson 44, is owned by the company Helipan S.A, and that there were three passengers aboard; Colombians Diego Hurtado and Óscar Acosta and Panamanian Walter Maduro. The airship completed a flight plan as filed, departing from the fulfilled a flight plan from the Marcos A. Gelabert airport at 10:04 am with a destination of Punta Chame. The four occupants of the helicopter were unharmed. Nevertheless, AAC authorities initiated an in-depth investigation into the accident to determine the cause.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - It's lunchtime, it's raining, and here comes the Saladino caravan. They are going to drive through Panama City, down Ave. Balboa, then up to Calle 50, over to Transistmica, and eventually out to Chilibre. Expect traffic to be screwed up all afternoon until the caravan thing is over. Heads up. If you have to go anywhere you might want to do it now. Either that or wait until it's over.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

Panama America - Amid confusion and disinformation, the new tariffs for taxis take effect as of today. The minimum fee of $1.00 will increase each time you cross from one zone or sector to another in Panama City and San Miguelito. When you cross one zonal boundary you will pay .35 cents more, and then an additional .25 cents for each subsequent sector. In addition, each additional passenger will be charged .40 cents. Among other changes, now on holidays, Sundays, and every day after 10:00 pm, taxis will charge an additional .25 cent fee.

Panama America - Aviation experts from Latin American will hold a training seminar in Panama from 19 - 21 August, organized by the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (CLAC). The forum will be held in a hotel in Panama City and is being supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States and is endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (OACI). According to a press release from the Panamanian Civil Aeronautical Authority (AAC) said the event will be attended by operators, technicians, and authorities from the specialized international organizations. During the forum some of the subjects that will be covered include Navigation and Approval of Operation, Inventory Aeronautical Testing Platforms, Models of Civil Aviation Regulations, and Work Following Systems.