2 dead, 4 injured in Chile gas hike protests

SANTIAGO, Chile

Protests over gas price increases of 17 percent are intensifying in far southern Chile. Already, two women protesters have been killed and a baby was among those injured when a truck smashed into a barricade and knocked them into a bonfire. About 21 people have been arrested.

Police say the trucker fled the scene in Punta Arenas early Wednesday. He had been driving without lights on.

The protests are the first major political challenge to face Chilean President Sebastian Pinera this year. He made a campaign promise that gas prices wouldn't rise, but the state-owned petroleum company has had trouble maintaining supplies. Chile imports 93 percent of its gas.