On Saturday, a head-on collision between a truck and a bus on a highway in the Bolivian Andes resulted in 22 deaths and 16 injuries, marking the country’s deadliest road accident of the year, according to police.
Fourteen of the deceased have been identified, with Chile’s foreign ministry confirming that at least one of its nationals was among the victims. Officials also reported that both drivers were among those killed.
The accident occurred on a route connecting the Bolivian town of Patacamaya to Tambo Quemado in northern Chile.
The bus was traveling towards Chile on a busy commercial and tourism route linking the two countries. Initial investigations revealed that the truck had crossed into the opposite lane while attempting to overtake another vehicle, leading to the crash. Traffic officer Nilo Torrico indicated that the truck’s illegal maneuver was responsible for the accident.
Images from the scene, shared by Unitel, showed the bus with its front section severely damaged and the truck wrecked. Some bodies were visible on the road as first responders worked to extricate those trapped in the wreckage.
Bolivia reports approximately 1,400 traffic fatalities annually, with most accidents attributed to poor driving and mechanical failures. Earlier this year, on April 4, a collision on a busy road in southwestern Bolivia resulted in 14 deaths and two injuries.
