Former Peruvian congresswoman Kelly Portalatino has reached a legal conciliation agreement after hitting cyclist Frank Espinoza Maurtua with her car in the Cercado de Lima district.
The collision left Espinoza Maurtua with a fracture in the sacral region of his spine. Following the crash, the Peruvian Prosecutor's Office initiated preliminary proceedings against the former Perú Libre lawmaker for the alleged crime of reckless injury.
Portalatino publicly addressed the traffic accident through her official account on social media platform X, sharing photographic records of herself together with the injured cyclist. She stated that both parties successfully negotiated a fair and legal settlement to resolve the incident.
According to her public statement, the former congresswoman said Espinoza Maurtua remained in a stable condition and fully lucid when signing the agreement. She added that the victim signed the document with complete free will and awareness, emphasizing that the conciliation process developed within a framework of dialogue, mutual respect, and empathy.
Portalatino further stated that she immediately aided the cyclist following the impact and ensured his prompt transfer to a medical facility. She assured the public that she is actively cooperating with police and judicial authorities in all inquiries related to the case.
Prosecutor's Office opens investigation
Despite the private settlement between Portalatino and the victim, law enforcement and judicial authorities are moving forward with formal procedures. The investigation is being conducted by the First Corporate Criminal Prosecutor's Office of Cercado de Lima-Breña-Rímac-Jesús María, under the direction of prosecutor Berenice Romero Ohama.
As part of these preliminary inquiries, the prosecutor's office ordered statements to be taken from the police officers who intervened during the initial response. Investigators will collect their official testimonies regarding the conditions at the scene immediately following the crash.
The Public Ministry also ordered a blood alcohol test to be performed on Portalatino to confirm whether she was driving under the influence. In addition, prosecutors directed medical examiners to perform a formal medico-legal assessment of Espinoza Maurtua to document the severity of his spinal fracture.
To establish the precise sequence of events leading to the collision, prosecutors ordered access to security camera footage at the intersection of Pacasmayo Avenue and Guillermo Dansey Street. The Ministry Public stated that these video recordings will undergo technical evaluation to determine how the accident occurred and clarify the exact circumstances of the impact.
Background and political context
Kelly Portalatino is a Peruvian medical doctor and political figure who served in the Congress of the Republic of Peru representing the department of Ancash. She is a member of Perú Libre, a left-wing political party founded and led by former Junín governor Vladimir Cerrón. Portalatino gained national prominence when she served as Peru's Minister of Health between October and December 2022 under former President Pedro Castillo.
Cercado de Lima is the central historical district of Lima, serving as the core of Peru's capital city. The intersection of Pacasmayo Avenue and Guillermo Dansey Street is located in an industrial and commercial zone near central Lima that experiences high volumes of commuter traffic, buses, and cyclists.
Under Peruvian criminal law, preliminary proceedings by the Public Ministry serve to gather evidence and determine whether criminal charges should be filed. A civil conciliation agreement resolves financial compensation between individuals, but public prosecutors retain the legal authority to pursue charges for reckless injury if evidence warrants further judicial action.
