Tragic Road Accident in Mexico Claims 21 Lives

At least 21 individuals lost their lives in a tragic accident on a highway in Puebla, with officials reporting the involvement of a tanker truck, bus, and van. The collision has raised concerns over highway safety in the region, echoing a troubling pattern observed in recent years.

At least 21 people have died following a severe road accident in central Mexico, according to Samuel Aguilar Pala, a local government official. The crash, which occurred on Wednesday morning on the highway connecting Cuacnopalan and Oaxaca, involved three vehicles: a tanker truck, a bus, and a van. Reports indicate that 18 victims succumbed at the scene while three others passed away later at the hospital. Numerous individuals sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical care.

Local media outlets, including the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, indicate that the disaster unfolded when a cement truck attempted to overtake a van. In its attempt to maneuver into the opposite lane, the truck collided head-on with a bus, subsequently slamming into a transport van before careening off into a ravine, which ignited upon impact.

Footage shared on social media by a local journalist captures a massive plume of dark smoke wafting from the ravine, along with the destruction of a long stretch of road railing. However, this video has yet to be independently verified by major news agencies.

This incident adds to a worrying trend of severe accidents on Mexico's highways, with another catastrophic bus crash in February resulting in significant casualties in Tabasco.