{"id":15689,"date":"2026-08-18T11:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=15689"},"modified":"2026-08-18T09:12:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T14:12:37","slug":"colon-traffic-deaths-hit-16-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/colon-traffic-deaths-hit-16-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Colon Traffic Deaths Hit 16 in 2026 After Dangerous Weekend Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A fatal collision at the entrance to Alto de Los Lagos over the weekend has pushed <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/travel-transportation-tourism\/colon-free-zone-eyes-takeover-of-neglected-caribbean-airport\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/travel-transportation-tourism\/colon-free-zone-eyes-takeover-of-neglected-caribbean-airport\/\">Colon <\/a>traffic deaths to 16 so far in 2026, according to the Land Transit and Transportation Authority. The agency, known as the ATTT, says the newest fatality fits a troubling pattern of alcohol use and driver negligence that continues to plague the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d37452.29117636596!2d-79.88261672294844!3d9.36092553333921!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8fab6cf31df37041%3A0x2481a18ac0f55568!2sAcceso%20Altos%20de%20Los%20Lagos!5e0!3m2!1sen!2spa!4v1787061774345!5m2!1sen!2spa\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Weekend Crash Adds to Colon Traffic Deaths<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latest victim died in a crash at the Alto de Los Lagos entry point in Colon province. Regional transport officials were already monitoring a steady climb in fatal incidents, and the weekend collision made an already difficult stretch even worse. Colon is one of Panama&#8217;s busiest logistical corridors, with heavy cargo and passenger traffic moving through its roads every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/colon-traffic-deaths-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"colon traffic deaths\" class=\"wp-image-15692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/colon-traffic-deaths-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/colon-traffic-deaths-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/colon-traffic-deaths-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/colon-traffic-deaths-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/colon-traffic-deaths-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/colon-traffic-deaths-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">colon traffic deaths<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Humberto Harris, the <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/panama-attt-evaluates-automated-enforcement-camera-system\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/panama-attt-evaluates-automated-enforcement-camera-system\/\">ATTT <\/a>regional director for Colon, said the middle of the year brought especially painful losses. July and August each recorded three traffic fatalities. That concentration of deaths has pushed the 2026 toll to 16, turning a local concern into a broader public safety emergency for the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/attt-autoridad-del-transito-y-transporte-terrestre-1200x1200-1-1024x1024.webp\" alt=\"ATTT Autoridad del Transito y transporte terrestre\" class=\"wp-image-15536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/attt-autoridad-del-transito-y-transporte-terrestre-1200x1200-1-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/attt-autoridad-del-transito-y-transporte-terrestre-1200x1200-1-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/attt-autoridad-del-transito-y-transporte-terrestre-1200x1200-1-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/attt-autoridad-del-transito-y-transporte-terrestre-1200x1200-1-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/attt-autoridad-del-transito-y-transporte-terrestre-1200x1200-1-450x450.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/attt-autoridad-del-transito-y-transporte-terrestre-1200x1200-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Logo ATTT Autoridad del Transito y transporte terrestre<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recurring Violations Expose a Disregard for Road Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ATTT has tracked a number of common infractions among drivers in Colon. Many motorists are using cell phones and other technological devices while behind the wheel. Others are not wearing seat belts. Disobeying traffic signals remains another frequent problem, and officials say these behaviors create the conditions for serious collisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some drivers have also been caught improperly using parking spaces reserved exclusively for people with disabilities. While that violation does not usually cause fatal accidents, authorities say it reflects a wider disregard for traffic regulations. That attitude, when carried onto the highway, becomes far more dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dont-drink-and-drive-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"don't drink and drive\" class=\"wp-image-15691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dont-drink-and-drive-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dont-drink-and-drive-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dont-drink-and-drive-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dont-drink-and-drive-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dont-drink-and-drive-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dont-drink-and-drive-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">don&#8217;t drink and drive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alcohol and Fixed-Object Crashes Form a Deadly Pattern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Harris pointed to a specific and recurring sequence in the most recent deaths. The last two fatal accidents involved vehicles crashing into fixed objects. Preliminary investigations in those cases suggested alcohol was present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The last two that we have had were collisions with fixed objects&#8221; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He explained that some drivers consume alcohol, lose control of their vehicles, leave the roadway and slam into poles or other structures. Authorities also attribute a portion of the accidents to drivers ignoring traffic signals and operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That deadly combination is especially risky in Colon, where a busy port economy means highways often carry a mix of passenger cars, buses and cargo trucks. When an impaired driver loses control, the results can be catastrophic, not just for the driver but for others on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DcKb7GDlDj2\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DcKb7GDlDj2\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DcKb7GDlDj2\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by TVN Noticias (@tvnnoticias)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Authorities Push for Behavior Change Across Colon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faced with the rising number of Colon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/road-traffic-injuries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">traffic deaths<\/a>, the ATTT is urging drivers to change their habits immediately. Officials want motorists to put away cell phones and other devices while driving, fasten their seat belts and obey all traffic signals. They are also asking the public to stop treating parking violations as minor, since respect for all road rules starts with smaller decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agency stressed that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/alcohol\/how-long-after-drinking-can-you-drive\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/alcohol\/how-long-after-drinking-can-you-drive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">driving after consuming alcohol<\/a> remains a key dangerous choices a person can make. Harris and other officials are asking residents to take these warnings seriously. They know that enforcement alone cannot stop every crash, especially if drivers continue to make reckless decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the site of the latest collision, another family is mourning an avoidable loss. The toll in Colon is not just a number. It represents 16 people who did not survive trips that should have been routine. Until drivers commit to safer behavior, authorities fear the province will keep adding names to a list that is already far too long.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A fatal collision at the entrance to Alto de Los Lagos over the weekend has pushed Colon traffic deaths to 16 so far in 2026, according to the Land Transit and Transportation Authority. The agency, known as the ATTT, says the newest fatality fits a troubling pattern of alcohol use and driver negligence that continues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15690,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31,35],"tags":[6217,6215,6216,6218],"class_list":["post-15689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-crime-safety","category-travel-transportation-tourism","tag-alcohol-province","tag-colon-traffic","tag-drivers-deaths","tag-traffic-deaths"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15689"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15693,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15689\/revisions\/15693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}