Very tragic bus accident in Veracruz, Mexico this morning

[Mex-Busnut]

It happened at 4:30 this morning in the northern part of Veracruz state, near the Tamaulipas state line. Apparently, a semi truck somehow lost its trailer, and the bus crashed into it. Early news reports placed the toll at 30 killed, 20 seriously injured. Now the Veracruz state government's official spokesperson places the toll at 43 dead.

http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/30-muertos-en-accidente-de-autobus-en-veracruz 

[H3-45]

Very sad indeed,Prayers go out to all involved.

Robert

[Iceni John]

The pictures show what appears to be a midi-sized bus, similar to those used in large cities for urban services.   (It has, if the vehicle on its side is the bus, only single rear wheels, not duals.)   If there were 43 fatalities plus some injuries, I'm thinking this bus was more than full, maybe with standing passengers.   That could possibly be one reason why there are so many dead and injured.   Being a lighter vehicle than a full-size inter-city type bus could also contribute to the accident toll.

Very sad.

John

[Mex-Busnut]

Actually, the bus in the first link is a city bus, not a highway bus. Several other vehicles were involved in this wreck. Here is a link showing what is left of the highway bus. It was a full-size deluxe bus.

http://mexico.cnn.com/nacional/2012/04/20/un-accidente-de-transito-deja-43-muertos-en-el-norte-de-veracruz

[Brassman]

Ugh.

[belfert]

If you hadn't told me I wouldn't have known that was a bus.  Very sad indeed.

[Gerry4104]

The links would be great if i could speak spanish..   

[Mex-Busnut]

Here is the story in English:

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/29963/mexico-bus-truck-collision-leaves-43-dead

[chev49]

thanks for the link

[Carbone]

Very very sad, count your blessing every day. Prayers to the families.

[muldoonman]

Sad! How often does a trailer come loose from fifthwheel pin. No or little safety standards down their. That's why we don't need their trucks up here.

[Mex-Busnut]

Today we got an update on this disaster on our morning news. Apparently, the bus was WAY overloaded: 70 people on board. And the semi was a typical Mexican rig pulling two 40-foot trailers. It was coming in the opposite direction, when its SECOND trailer disconnected and went directly into the front and side of the on-coming bus.

So it was not a failure of the fifth-wheel, but rather the inter-trailer dolly became disconnected.
 
Here is a pix of a typical Mexican combination. Two 40-foot trailers is very common. They are limited to 32 meters (approx 105 feet) overall length. And yes: I have personally seen dozens of spectacular accidents caused by these rigs.

[chev49]

Sad! How often does a trailer come loose from fifthwheel pin. No or little safety standards down their. That's why we don't need their trucks up here.

i second that