A tragic vehicle accident in Mexico involved four Americans and resulted in at least 10 fatalities, with around 10 others injured. This incident occurred on Sunday when a tractor-trailer crashed into several cars on a highway in the western state of Jalisco, as reported by the Nayarit State Secretariat of Safety and Civil Protection.
While the agency confirmed the death toll at 10, the Mexican Army, Air Force, and National Guard reported nine fatalities. The four Americans only suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital, according to Jalisco’s Civil Protection Department.
They stated, “Four patients with mild symptoms, all American nationals, were taken from the highway by private ambulance to the Arboredas Hospital in Guadalajara.”
According to reports from Reuters, two of the deceased were minors. Among the injured, two were identified as National Guard soldiers who sustained serious injuries and were also taken to a Guadalajara hospital.
Footage shared on social media depicted several vehicles caught in flames on the highway, which connects Guadalajara and Tepic, sending up thick clouds of black smoke.
Officials mentioned the accident happened when a tractor-trailer lost its brakes and struck a line of vehicles that had stopped due to a previous collision. “Initial reports indicate that the trailer suffered a brake system failure and collided with several vehicles that had stopped due to an earlier incident,” the Mexican Army stated on X.
Reports suggest the initial crash involved two trailers colliding, which was then exacerbated by a third tractor-trailer crashing into the scene as emergency responders arrived, according to the Nayarit State Office of Safety and Civil Protection.
Authorities noted that “three private cars and two tractor-trailer trucks were completely destroyed by this second impact,” and added that “two other private vehicles and an official National Guard Dodge Charger unit sustained property damage.” Firefighters eventually managed to extinguish the blaze.
Local outlet El Financiero reported that the driver of the tractor-trailer has since been taken into custody by the National Guard.
