Train-Bus Collision in Mexico Kills at Least 10
Freight train collides with bus, killing 10 near Mexico City.
A catastrophic collision between a freight train and a double-decker bus in Atlacomulco, about 130 kilometers northwest of Mexico City, claimed at least 10 lives and injured over 40 people early Monday, authorities reported. The devastating accident, which occurred in an industrial area filled with warehouses and factories, tore apart a Herradura de Plata bus, leaving a trail of destruction and grief.
The state of Mexico’s civil defense agency announced via X that rescue operations were ongoing at the crash site, while the state prosecutor’s office launched an investigation to determine the cause. Videos circulating on social media captured the horrifying moment when the bus, caught in heavy traffic, slowly crossed the train tracks just as a high-speed freight train barreled into its midpoint, dragging it along the tracks. The footage revealed no visible crossing gates or signals, raising questions about safety measures at the intersection.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City of Mexico, the train operator, confirmed the incident and expressed condolences, stating that its personnel were cooperating with authorities. The bus company has not yet commented. Of the 41 injured, many were rushed to hospitals across the state, with survivors grappling with severe injuries and trauma.
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Rebeca Miranda, who lost her sister’s daughter-in-law in the crash, waited anxiously near the tracks for news about the victims’ bodies. Her sister, a domestic worker who survived but was hospitalized, was among those on the bus. “It’s really unfortunate. Why? To beat the train. Those are lives,” Miranda lamented, criticizing the decision to cross the tracks as the train approached.
The crash underscores a growing safety crisis at Mexico’s rail crossings. According to a September report from Mexico’s Rail Transportation Regulating Agency, grade-level crossing accidents have surged, with 800 incidents last year compared to 602 in 2020. While the report did not specify victim numbers, recent tragedies highlight the deadly risks. Last month, six people died in a similar train-vehicle collision in Guanajuato, and in 2019, nine perished when a freight train struck a passenger bus in Queretaro.
Videos from the scene showed the bus’s roof completely sheared off, with survivors visible on the upper deck as the train came to a halt. Heart-wrenching cries for help echoed in the aftermath, amplifying the tragedy’s impact. As investigations continue, the incident has sparked urgent calls for improved rail crossing safety to prevent further loss of life in Mexico’s industrial heartlands.
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