A devastating accident along the Pacific coast stretch of the Pijijiapan-Tonalá highway in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas has claimed the lives of at least 10 Cuban migrants and left 17 others seriously injured. The accident occurred on October 1 as a cargo truck, carrying a large number of migrants, overturned on the perilous route frequently taken by individuals attempting to cross into Mexico from Guatemala en route to the United States.
As per the National Migration Institute (INM) of Mexico, the ill-fated vehicle, identified as a Ford truck, was not designed to accommodate so many passengers. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene following the accident.
Initial reports suggest that the driver was speeding when he lost control of the overloaded truck, causing it to overturn. Photographs shared by authorities depict a truck devoid of number plates, lying on its side in a ditch adjacent to the highway. Half of the wooden bed and the towering side panels on the right side of the vehicle were torn off during the crash.
Among the casualties, tragically, was a child. The 17 injured individuals were swiftly transported to local hospitals for medical attention and are currently under close monitoring, as per the INM.
Road accidents involving migrants have become tragically common in Mexico, as many individuals making the perilous journey to the United States travel in unauthorized and inadequately maintained vehicles. This accident in Chiapas is a grim reminder of the dangers and risks that migrants face during their arduous journeys.
A similar incident occurred in December 2021 when a truck carrying an estimated 54 people, believed to be primarily of Central American descent, overturned in Chiapas, resulting in multiple fatalities.
The Mexican authorities are launching a thorough investigation into the recent accident to determine the exact circumstances that led to this tragic loss of life and injuries.
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