Clash between trailer and bus left eleven injured on the Mexico-Puebla highway

The Mexico-Puebla highway had to be closed in both directions by elements of the National Guard due to a collision between a trailer and a passenger bus, which left eleven injured, including a minor.

The accident occurred at kilometer 42+900 of the highway in the direction of Mexico City, at the height of an area of sloping curves located in the region known as Sierra Nevada, in the municipality of Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico.

Personnel from the National Guard highway division came to the scene to secure the site and stop traffic in both directions in order to avoid further risks.

“In the State of Mexico, traffic lanes are enabled after the completion of maneuvers by accident, approximately km 42+900 highway (1710) Mexico-Puebla, same section, direction CDMX,” the agency wrote on its Twitter account.

Early investigations reported that the unit ran out of brakes in the cornering area, which in turn caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and invade the counterflow lane.

According to the operator of the bus with the name Turismos Ómnibus, economic number 690 and registration 77-HA8A, the tractor-truck broke down the retaining wall after running out of brakes and impacted the passenger unit, which was carrying 15 people.

Members of the National Guard arrested 44-year-old Jesús N and 39-year-old José N, first and second bus drivers, and presented them to the Public Prosecutor's Office to determine responsibility.

The corporation said it lacked information about the driver of the trailer and also about the plates of the loading unit, since it was consumed by fire and had to be suffocated by firefighters from the municipalities of Chalco and Ixtapaluca.

Civil Protection of Ixtapaluca reported that paramedics treated 11 injured people, including a seven-year-old girl.

The two directions of the highway were closed at kilometer 33, where the collection square of San Marcos Huixtoco is located, and at kilometer 63, in the town of Rio Frio, where the federal highway connects with the quota road.

Traffic to Mexico City reopened yesterday shortly after 8pm, but continued to be suspended towards the capital of Puebla until the evening of Monday, April 18.

Mexico ranks seventh globally and third in Latin America for road accident deaths. This has been the reason why various federal agencies insist on compliance with precautionary measures: before, during and after driving on roads, as well as in cities or small towns.

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