The death toll from the accident that occurred on Saturday, August 15, at the Pedrozo intersection in Ypacaraí has risen to six. Virginio Sánchez, 45, who was hospitalized in serious condition at the Itauguá National Hospital, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning, August 18. The truck driver, Víctor Raúl De la Cruz, 48, who had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, received the news during an interview and expressed deep sorrow, stating that the sixth death "hits much harder" and that his personal fate matters less than that of the victims. Pytagua’s earlier coverage of the Pedrozo tragedy details the original crash.
The Criminal Court of Guarantees in Capiatá ordered the preventive detention of the driver, rejecting requests for alternative measures. He will remain detained in Tacumbú while the Public Prosecutor's Office continues the investigation, which includes analyzing the vehicle's speed and the reason the escape ramp was not used during the descent from Cerro Caacupé.
Amid the public outcry, the National Congress held an emotional farewell ceremony for two of its employees, Fátima Silva and Marcelo Ávalos, and their two children, Fernando Jesús and Fátima Sabrina, who were among the deceased. The four were laid in state at the Congress building, where the couple had worked for years. Fabián Ávalos Silva, the family's surviving son, asked that his loved ones be remembered "with much love." Colorado Party Senator Lilian Samaniego submitted a request for Fabián to be appointed as a Legislative employee.
The tragedy has strongly reignited the political debate over the responsibilities of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC). A group of 14 opposition deputies formally submitted a request to question Minister Claudia Centurión, demanding explanations for delays in the construction of the overpass meant to replace the signaled intersection, originally scheduled for May 2026. Deputy Pedro Gómez (PLRA) was emphatic in labeling the negligence as "criminal" and stated that the minister "is solely responsible."
However, the ruling coalition bloc, Honor Colorado, has already indicated it will reject the request. Leaders such as Chamber President Raúl Latorre and bloc leader Miguel del Puerto argued that the questioning "smacks of politicizing" the tragedy, suggesting that a press conference by the minister would be sufficient. The position was criticized by the opposition, with Deputy Johanna Ortega (PPS) labeling it as "cynicism" and stating that more than 60 deaths at the location cannot be considered mere accidents, but rather "criminal negligence."
In response to the pressure, the MOPC announced an immediate measure: the removal of the traffic light at the Pedrozo intersection. Minister Claudia Centurión stated that she directed the concessionaire Rutas del Este to remove the equipment within 21 to 30 days, after the construction of acceleration and deceleration lanes to ensure traffic safety. Centurión also stated that the release of land for the overpass had been resolved through the courts and demanded that the work, currently 47% complete, be accelerated for completion in three months, rather than the previously projected five to six months.
However, landowners affected by the overpass construction, Carlos and Sandra Ayala, contested the MOPC's claims that land disputes were the main cause of the delay. They stated that the expropriation of their land had already been resolved and that the controversy was only about the compensation value. They also criticized the current overpass design, considering it an inferior and cheaper solution compared to the longitudinal project originally proposed.
Meanwhile, technical proposals for a definitive solution continue to emerge. Engineer Arquímedes Delgado, in an interview, estimated that more than 100 people have died at the location over the past three decades. He advocated for the construction of a bypass that goes around Cerro Caacupé with a suitable gradient, a solution he estimates would cost about $20 million, asking: "How much are the human lives we are losing worth?"