Mexico City, Mexico, Aug 14, 2009 / 10:42 am
The Diocese of Cordoba in Mexico has expressed sadness over an accident caused by Bishop Eduardo Patino Leal, who fainted while driving. The accident left five people injured and one person dead.
The diocese said Bishop Patino was driving his pickup on the way to a meeting when he fainted and ran over six people. One of the bystanders was killed. The bishop suffers from diabetes, which officials said was probably the cause of his fainting spell.
When he regained consciousness, Bishop Patino realized he had crashed his pickup into a post and had run over several individuals. Police officers helped him out of the vehicle and said he was extremely upset and showed signs of hypertension and dizziness. He had also injured his right hand in the accident.
The diocese said Bishop Patino is very saddened by the incident and has offered his prayers and sincere apologies to the family members of the victims. “He joins his sorrow to that of each of them as if they were his own family,” the statement said.
Bishop Patino offered his full cooperation to police in their investigation of the incident.