A tragic accident in central Colombia claimed the lives of ten people. The incident occurred on an overpass between Cajamarca and Calarca. A bus carrying 22 students and teachers crashed after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle due to a mechanical failure.
Colonel Luis Fernando Atuesta, a police representative, explained that the malfunction caused several passengers to be ejected from the bus. Eight of the victims died instantly. The accident left 11 others injured, and emergency services quickly responded to transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
This bus trip was part of an academic internship organized by university representatives in collaboration with the National Institute of Roads. The group was returning to their university when the disaster struck.
In response to this tragedy, Humboldt University of Colombia declared two days of mourning, expressing condolences for the loss of students, teachers, and administrators.
Accidents like this are not isolated. Recent statistics show that road accidents in Colombia have been rising. According to the National Road Safety Agency, the country saw a 10% increase in road traffic fatalities last year. Factors such as aging vehicles and inadequate road maintenance often contribute to these incidents.
As communities grapple with the repercussions of such accidents, discussions on road safety are gaining momentum. More experts are calling for improved vehicle inspection processes and better driver education programs to prevent future tragedies. The hope is that by addressing these issues now, similar accidents can be avoided.
You can read more about road safety measures in Colombia here and see related statistics on traffic accidents on official health department sites.