At least 21 people have been killed in a deadly multi-vehicle accident in central Mexico on Wednesday morning, according to a local official. The three-vehicle crash between a truck, a bus and a van happened on the highway between Cuacnopalan and Oaxaca in Puebla state, said Samuel Aguilar Pala, a local government official.
He said 18 people died at the scene and another three died later in a hospital. Many more were injured and are receiving medical attention, he wrote on the X. Video shared by a local journalist on social media shows a large cloud of dark smoke rising from the ravine where the crash occurred and a long portion of road railing torn away.
Mexico highways have had an unfortunately high figures for severe fatal accidents in recent years.
Mexican newspaper La Jornada reports that the crash took place when a cement truck attempted to overtake a van. When crossing into the opposite lane, the truck hit a bus and then collided with a transport van head-on before tumbling into the ravine below and bursting into flames. Video shared by a local journalist on social media shows a large cloud of dark smoke rising from the ravine and a long portion of road railing torn away.