Guatemala: Truck accident near Nahualá leaves 18 dead March 27

Event

A truck crashed into a crowd of people at the entrance of the municipality of Nahualá (Sololá department), 160 km (100 mi) west of the capital, Guatemala City, on Wednesday evening (local time), March 27, leaving 18 people dead. At least 19 people were also admitted to three hospitals in the region with injuries as a result of the accident. Local authorities reported that the truck struck a group of people who had gone onto the road to inspect another person who had been hit by a car in another accident. The semi-trailer truck reportedly did not have headlights on and the driver did not stop after striking the group of people.

Context

Guatemala has a poor national road safety record and traffic rules are frequently ignored. The accident on March 27 is one of the worst accidents in recent years. In 2013, a bus plunged off a cliff in rural Guatemala, leaving 43 people dead and dozens of others injured.

Advice

Individuals in Guatemala are advised to adhere to regulations issued by local authorities and exercise caution when traveling on roads in the country, especially at night.