Alejandro Cortés Sanhueza, 22, died on the night of Friday, October 9, on Route S-60, which connects Teodoro Schmidt with Hualpín in the La Araucanía region. He was riding a motorcycle to his parents' home when a car struck him.
According to BioBioChile, the collision occurred near Isla Licán Chica, around kilometer 85 of the route, southwest of Temuco. Both vehicles caught fire and the young man died at the scene.
The car's driver fled after the crash. According to BioBioChile, he turned himself in to Carabineros about 8 hours later. T13 specified that he did so hours later, without giving a number. He remains hospitalized with serious injuries at Temuco Regional Hospital.
Lieutenant Javier Jara, of the Carabineros Traffic Accident Investigation Section (SIAT) in Cautín, said the team is investigating how the collision occurred. So far, there is no official account of the causes.
Alejandro was studying Industrial Engineering at the University of La Frontera (UFRO) in Temuco. He also led volleyball training workshops for young people, women and men at the Municipality of Toltén, a neighboring municipality. He played for Club Volten and danced with the Wangulen Municipal Folk Ballet of Teodoro Schmidt. His family is known in the area because it owns Restaurant y Hostería Don Lolo.
On Instagram, Club Volten remembered him as "a friend you could trust, on and off the court". The Wangulen group wrote that he had been "a fundamental pillar" of the ensemble and recalled the sopaipillas he donated when they hosted visiting groups. His fellow members called him "Janito".
The Municipality of Teodoro Schmidt declared four days of municipal mourning. It highlighted his work in the Health Promotion Program and his contribution to sports and culture in the municipality.
Because of the driver's health, his detention hearing was to be held remotely before the Nueva Imperial Guarantee Court. The court extended his detention until Tuesday, October 13, pending outstanding forensic tests, including a blood alcohol test.