Aerial photo shows the burnt truck and bus in Veracruz. (Image via: The New York Times)

Bus Collided in Mexico, Dozens Died

VERACRUZ - The gruesome mountain road was the main cause. A bus collided with a semi-trailer cargo truck in Cumbres de Maltrata, Veracruz, Mexico.

The bus was filled with Catholic pilgrims, returning from Mexico city to Chiapas, after a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The two vehicles then crossed the mountainous area Cumbres de Maltrata, and collided. The truck and the bus then rolled over and set ablaze.

According to the statement from Roberto Hernandez, an official from Nogales Township, these casualties were allegedly due to the blocked exit from being rolled.

About 21 people died due to the crash, from 30 people who were directly involved in the collision. The casualty was actually 20 people. Nonetheless, in the hospital, one injured person gave into the injury and passed away, adding 1 to the casualties list, released the report from Guadalupe Osorno, director of Civil Defense.

Cumbres de Maltrata is a well known mountainous area in Mexico, infamous by its dangerous, steep road. The road takes its toll by 4 accidents a day, according to the statistics released by Mexican traffic institution, CAPUFE. It was tabulated that reckless driving, inexperience driving, and brake failure are the most common causes for incidents on the area.

In April 2006, the same incident also happened in Cumbres de Maltrata, where a bus, also filled with Catholic pilgrims, had a gruesome accident. The incident killed 65 people, the worst accident in the area.