Bolivia's worst road accident of the year kills 22

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Jul 2024 08:06

The bus was en route to Chile along a heavily trafficked commercial and tourist route connecting the two nations.

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The aftermath of an accident that occurred on the road between the Bolivian town of Patacamaya and Tambo Quemado in northern Chile (@XHNews / X)

A head-on collision between a truck and a bus on a highway in the Bolivian Andes on Saturday resulted in 22 deaths and 16 injuries, marking the country’s deadliest road accident this year, according to police reports.

So far, 14 of the deceased have been identified, with Chile's Foreign Ministry confirming that at least one of its citizens is among the victims.

Initial reports indicated that the drivers of both vehicles were also killed in the crash. The incident occurred on the road between the Bolivian town of Patacamaya and Tambo Quemado in northern Chile, as reported by Torrico to the Unitel channel. The bus was en route to Chile along a heavily trafficked commercial and tourist route connecting the two nations.

According to traffic officer Nilo Torrico, the initial investigation revealed that the truck had veered into the opposite lane while attempting to overtake another vehicle.

"This truck made a prohibited maneuver and as a result we have this unfortunate accident," he said.

Images of the accident shared by Unitel depicted the bus with its front section shattered and the truck severely damaged. Several bodies were visible on the road.

First responders were seen working to extract bodies trapped in the wreckage, Torrico reported.

According to government statistics, Bolivia experiences approximately 1,400 traffic fatalities annually, with accidents primarily attributed to poor driving and mechanical failures. On April 4, a collision on a busy road in southwestern Bolivia resulted in 14 deaths and two injuries.