A Catholic priest in the southeastern Guatemalan province of Santa Rosa was fatally shot Friday after a road accident, authorities said.

The Rev. David Donis died of a gunshot to the chest, fire department spokesperson Lazaro Aguilar told radio stations.

Donis, 70, was the parish priest at La Sagrada Familia church in Oratorio, Santa Rosa.

The victim's brother, Vicente Donis, told reporters that David was at the wheel when they collided with another vehicle while on the way to Guatemala City.

The two people in the other vehicle verbally abused the priest before shooting him and fleeing, Vicente said.

Guatemala experiences an average of 16 homicides a day, but the government of retired Gen. Otto Perez Molina, who took office Jan 14, has vowed to reduce the level of violence.

--IANS/EFE

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