Police confirm suspects detained over death of runner Mónica Martinich

Ecuadorian police confirmed that suspects have been detained over the death of runner Mónica Martinich, but did not say how many. Operations remain underway to find the driver of the black pickup that struck her while she trained on the Samborondón road.

Police located the vehicle on Sunday, Sept. 6, in Colimes, in Guayas province. They handed it to the Office for the Investigation of Traffic Accidents, which will continue the investigative work. Surveillance camera recordings helped identify the vehicle’s license plate and move the inquiry forward as authorities examine its possible connection to the case.

Martinich died on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, while preparing for an international marathon. She had been training with two other people, accompanied by a white pickup serving as a safety vehicle. A black pickup crossed into the right lane and hit her. The other two athletes managed to run clear.

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My mother lost her life because of something she did not cause.

Martinich’s 20-year-old daughter, Luciana Caicedo Martinich, asked people to respect her mother’s memory and the family’s grief. She said some messages had blamed Martinich for her own death. “My mother lost her life because of something she did not cause,” she said. “I still find it difficult to understand how someone can look at a tragedy like this and decide that the person who died is the one to blame. They blame her without knowing what really happened.”

Dozens of runners and residents marched along the Samborondón road on Sunday, demanding justice and better safety conditions for people who practice sports in public spaces. Martinich’s daughter described her as passionate and disciplined, saying she trained every day to fulfill her dream of becoming a marathon runner.

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I still find it difficult to understand how someone can look at a tragedy like this and decide that the person who died is the one to blame. They blame her without knowing what really happened.