At Least 26 Dead after Truck Ploughs into Mexico Crowd

In comments to Radio Formula, Reyes said that 46 people hurt in Wednesday evening’s accident in the town of Mazapil “remain hospitalized,” with 11 of them in serious condition, although a total of 130 people were treated for assorted injuries.

He said that the seriously injured are receiving treatment in hospitals in Saltillo, in the neighboring state of Coahuila, adding that he will visit them later Thursday afternoon along with Health Secretary Mercedes Juan after going to the hospitals in Mazapil.

The accident occurred when about 300 people were making a pilgrimage toward a church in downtown Mazapil as part of a religious celebration.

In remarks to Televisa, Zacatecas state Attorney General Leticia Soto said that the accident was caused by a “mechanical failure,” according to initial studies.

Evidently, the truck’s brakes failed and it crashed into a pickup truck, but due to its momentum it also ploughed into the crowd at the end of the procession of pilgrims.

The governor said that the truck driver jumped out of the vehicle when it was still moving, “which, in practical terms, left it out of control” and it hit the line of pilgrims.

He added that the truck belongs to an individual, whose son was apparently driving it at the time of the crash.

Mazapil Mayor Victor Perez Esquivel said that the city government will cover the funeral costs of the victims and will provide support to the affected families.

In a public ceremony with the military, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto expressed his “deepest” condolences to the relatives of the victims.