A devastating road accident in central Mexico has left at least 21 people dead and several others injured after a collision involving a cement truck, a passenger bus, and a van, according to local authorities.
The tragic crash occurred on Wednesday morning along the highway connecting Cuacnopalan and Oaxaca in Puebla state, said Samuel Aguilar Pala, a local government official. Eighteen victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others later died in hospital, he confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The violent collision unfolded when a cement truck reportedly attempted to overtake a van, veering into the opposite lane. The truck struck a bus, then crashed head-on into the van before plunging into a ravine and bursting into flames, according to Mexican newspaper La Jornada.
Dramatic video shared on social media by a local journalist shows thick plumes of black smoke rising from the ravine and a destroyed stretch of roadside barrier—although the footage has not yet been independently verified.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, where multiple injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. The severity of their injuries has not yet been disclosed.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or confirmed the number of passengers in each vehicle.
This incident adds to a growing list of deadly highway accidents in Mexico. In February, a bus crash in Tabasco stateclaimed dozens of lives, sparking calls for tighter road safety enforcement.
As investigations into Wednesday’s crash continue, officials have urged drivers to exercise extreme caution, particularly on Mexico’s often treacherous rural highways.
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