Four Americans were among those affected by a fiery multi-vehicle collision in Mexico that claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals and left approximately 10 others injured.
The catastrophic pileup occurred on Sunday after a tractor-trailer collided with several vehicles on a highway in the western state of Jalisco, according to Nayarit's Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection. While this agency reported 10 deaths, Mexico's Army, Air Force, and National Guard, however, reported a lower figure of nine fatalities.
Authorities with Jalisco Civil Protection confirmed that four American citizens sustained minor injuries and required medical attention at a local facility.
Four patients in minor condition, all U.S. citizens, were transferred to the Arboledas Hospital in Guadalajara by a private ambulance from the highway.
Among those who died were two minors. Additionally, two National Guard members suffered serious injuries and required hospitalization in Guadalajara.
Footage circulated on social media depicted numerous vehicles engulfed in flames along the highway connecting Guadalajara and Tepic, sending multiple plumes of black smoke into the air.
Catastrophic Collision Details
Mexican officials stated the collision began when a tractor-trailer reportedly experienced a brake failure, subsequently crashing into a queue of vehicles that had halted due to an earlier incident.
According to initial reports, a trailer reportedly suffered a failure in its braking system and ended up crashing into several vehicles that were stopped due to a prior incident.
The initial incident leading to the stopped traffic was a rear-end collision involving two separate tractor-trailers. As emergency responders were addressing this initial scene, a third tractor-trailer then collided with the stationary vehicles, according to the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Nayarit.
As a result of this second impact, three private vehicles and two tractor-trailer trucks were completely destroyed by the fire. Additionally, two other private vehicles and an official Dodge Charger unit belonging to the National Guard sustained material damage.
Firefighting teams successfully extinguished the large blaze, according to officials.
Local news outlet El Financiero indicated that the driver of the tractor-trailer responsible for the second impact was subsequently detained by the National Guard.
