An 89-year-old man lost his life in a tragic car accident in Southeast D.C. earlier this week, according to Metropolitan Police Department officials. The incident, now under investigation by the department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit, occurred in the early hours of April 10.
John Alfonso Candela of California, Maryland, was operating a sedan northbound on South Capitol Street, just near the Frederick Douglas Memorial Bridge when the crash unfolded. A difficult turn in the road was attempted, and as a result, Candela's vehicle veered off and struck a drain ditch.
The victim was rushed to a local hospital following the accident, but sadly, his injuries proved fatal. The medical team pronounced him dead shortly after his arrival. As the MPD continues to piece together the details of what led up to the crash, the community mourns a life cut short.
"The driver failed to negotiate the curve and crashed into a drain ditch," detailed a statement from the MPD on their website, which echoes the haunting reality of just how quickly circumstances on the road can take a turn for the worse. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are yet to determine if additional factors may have contributed to the tragic event. Candela's identification as the decedent was confirmed by authorities yesterday.
