Fiery highway pileup in Mexico leaves at least 10 dead

Guadalajara: A multi-vehicle disaster involving a heavy cargo lorry and several vehicles attending to a previous road accident left at least 10 people dead, including two children, in the Mexican state of Jalisco on Sunday.

The fatal pile-up occurred close to the town of Hostotipaquillo, along the border separating Jalisco from the neighbouring western state of Nayarit, according to local authorities.

Whilst emergency highway personnel were managing an earlier collision involving two large lorries, a third commercial truck ploughed into the stationary traffic, resulting in "an accident of greater magnitude," the Nayarit Civil Protection agency stated.

The force of the impact triggered a major fire that consumed two of the cargo trucks and three other vehicles, whilst a Mexican National Guard patrol vehicle also sustained significant damage in the wreckage.

Jalisco’s Civil Protection agency confirmed that two minors were among the 10 fatalities recorded at the scene.

An additional 10 individuals were injured during the incident. Among the casualties were two National Guard officers listed in serious condition, alongside four United States citizens who suffered minor injuries.

Deadly traffic accidents involving heavy goods vehicles and passenger buses are a frequent occurrence in Mexico, commonly caused by inadequate vehicle maintenance, reckless driving, or driver exhaustion.

AFP