Easter Island, a car knocks down a moai. And the mayor bans vehicle access to cultural sites.

He knocked down a moai, one ofEaster Island’s celebrated and mysterious statues, with his pickup truck. The pickup was driven by a Chilean citizen (Easter Island is under the administration of Chile) who lives on the Pacific island.According to initial findings by authorities, it appears that the accident was due to a broken brake on the car. The incident occurred last March 1, and Easter Island Mayor Pedro Edmunds, who says the damage caused by the vehicle is “incalculable,” signed an ordinance to prohibit vehicle access to archaeological sites in order to protect the sculptures.

The measure had already been proposed eight years ago, but was rejected then. However, now the situation is different, partly because, over the past eight years, the number of tourists has increased, as well as the number of inhabitants, which has risen from 8,000 to 12,000, and as a result, the risk of episodes like the one last Sunday is increasing.

Meanwhile, for the driver of the pickup, the charge is that of damage to a national monument, and this carries for him the risk of a fine of between 2.5 and 10 million Chilean pesos (roughly 3 to 12 thousand euros), in addition to criminal consequences to be determined after the investigation closes. There are about a thousand moai on Easter Island, and they are a unique testimony to a civilization on which there is still much light to be shed.

Pictured: the pickup truck after crashing into the moai. Ph. Credit Ma’u Henua

Easter Island, a car knocks down a moai. And the mayor bans vehicle access to cultural sites.

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