Tragic Collision Near Mexico City: Train and Bus Accident Leaves 10 Dead
A devastating collision occurred in Atlacomulco, a town situated about 80 miles northwest of Mexico City, when a freight train collided with a double-decker bus, resulting in at least 10 fatalities and 55 injuries. The incident took place in an industrial zone characterized by its warehouses and factories, according to local authorities.
The tragic event unfolded as the bus, operated by the Herradura de Plata line, was cut in half by the train at a crossing. The state of Mexico’s civil defense agency reported on X that emergency teams were actively engaged at the scene. An investigation into the accident has been initiated by the state prosecutor’s office.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City of Mexico, the train operator, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and confirmed their personnel’s presence at the site, cooperating with the authorities. The bus company has yet to provide a comment regarding the incident.
Footage circulating on social media reveals the bus slowly traversing the tracks amidst heavy traffic when a rapidly approaching train collided with it at midsection. The train’s momentum propelled the bus along the tracks, eventually separating the front and rear halves.
Eyewitnesses noted the absence of crossing gates or stop lights at the site. Miguel Sánchez, a nearby service station worker, recounted hearing the train’s horn before the collision, stating, “We heard a crash. We thought it was just a car. We never thought it would be a bus with so many people aboard.” Cars had continued crossing the tracks before the crash, though they halted shortly after, as did a motorcycle moments before impact.
In the aftermath, a video showed the bus’s remains beside the tracks, with individuals visible on the top level. Cries for help were audible until emergency services arrived. Rebeca Miranda, whose sister and sister’s daughter-in-law were aboard, shared that her sister survived but the other woman did not. Both were domestic workers, and Miranda expressed frustration over the accident, stating, “It’s really unfortunate. Why? To beat the train. Those are lives.”
The incident adds to a growing list of accidents at grade-level crossings in Mexico, which have seen an increase in recent years. A report from Mexico’s Rail Transportation Regulating Agency highlighted a rise from 602 incidents in 2020 to 800 last year, without detailing the number of victims. Similar tragedies include a recent collision in Guanajuato state, which claimed six lives, and a 2019 disaster in Queretaro, resulting in nine deaths.
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