Dominican content creator Yaritza Ortiz was injured after being struck by a motorcycle while recording a video on the boardwalk in San Pedro de Macoris.
The incident was captured on video during a recording session when Ortiz, who is also a radio announcer, stepped off the sidewalk and took several steps into the roadway without noticing an approaching motorcycle. The collision threw both Ortiz and the motorcycle driver to the pavement, leaving both with injuries, primarily to their faces.
Following the accident, Ortiz posted on social media to express gratitude for surviving the impact, noting that many people do not get that opportunity. She also urged greater caution on public roads and stated that the motorcyclist was traveling at high speed. The footage sparked wide online debate, with viewers divided between blaming the driver for speeding and faulting the pedestrian for stepping into traffic without checking if it was safe.
Fundraising Campaign for the Driver
Days after the collision, the family of the motorcycle driver, identified as Enyer, appealed for financial help to manage his medical expenses. A campaign launched on the Jompeame platform set a fundraising goal of RD$350,000 to assist with the costs of his medical treatment after social media users requested support for him.
Legal Analysis of the Collision
Traffic specialist Aníbal Germoso analyzed the video on his platform AccidentesRD using Dominican traffic laws. Germoso stated that the motorcyclist committed infractions by allegedly speeding and riding without a protective helmet, both of which are penalized under national traffic statutes.
However, Germoso noted that Ortiz crossed the street outside a designated pedestrian zone despite two enabled crosswalks being available nearby. He cited Article 218 of the Law of Mobility, Land Transportation, Traffic and Road Safety, which requires pedestrians to use designated intersections, crossings, or bridges when present.
Germoso also referenced Article 222, which obligates drivers to yield to pedestrians at marked crosswalks, explaining that the rule did not apply in this situation due to where Ortiz stepped onto the road. He concluded that while both parties committed infractions, primary legal responsibility rested with the pedestrian for entering the roadway outside designated crossing areas without verifying that it was safe to do so.
