TVC E: A multi-vehicle highway collision in northern Chile on Friday January 29 killed at least six people, left seven in critical condition and injured another 35.
The accident occurred 35 km south of Pozo Almonte when a passenger bus slammed into four trucks that were parked on the side of the highway following a breakdown.
“The one that was in the middle had broken down, so the one that was in front went ahead to help him and the other was behind, the one in the middle didn’t have lights so he set up the jack and put a cone up ahead and in 10 minutes the tragedy started,” explained Isidro, a driver of one of the trucks involved in the crash.
Authorities said while they were still waiting for the results of the investigation, it seemed that the bus driver didn’t notice the parked trucks.
“Four trucks were stopped at the side (of the highway) and the bus, it seems, didn’t see them – we are waiting for the results from the Traffic Accident Investigation Bureau – and this resulted in a collision,” said Israel Jaida, a firefighter from Pozo Almonte.
All four trucks involved in the collision were from Paraguay and two Paraguayan drivers were killed in the accident. The other four fatalities were Chilean nationals traveling on board the bus.
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