Puerto Aventuras, Q.R. — State authorities say 50 people were injured in a bus rollover outside Puerto Aventuras Saturday. The single vehicle accident happened around 5:00 p.m. on the side street of the Puerto Aventuras bridge.
Emergency crews from both Playa del Carmen and Tulum were at the scene helping the injured. The rolled LIPU bus was transporting hotel staff from Hotel Bahía Príncipe at the time of the accident.
Of those injured, 14 were reported stable with moderate injuries and 36 stable with minor injuries. Eleven of the injured were transferred to the IMSS Hospital 18 for specialized care. Later, 15 others from the bus were transferred to private hospitals in accordance with their company’s insurance.
Puerto Aventuras firefighters arrived to carry out rescue work and pre-hospital medical care. Ambulances from Tulum also arrived to support the emergency team.
The bus was the only vehicle involved in the accident. Authorities have not said what caused the rollover, however, there has been local media reports of witness accusations of excessive speed playing a factor.
On Saturday evening Governor Mara Lezama posted “I want to inform you about the accident that occurred this afternoon on Highway 307, near Puerto Aventuras, where a personnel transport bus overturned with more than 40 people on board. Fortunately, there were no human losses, although several injuries were reported.
“The ambulances transferred the injured to the IMSS in Playa del Carmen and the CostaMed clinic for immediate medical attention. Among them, approximately 10 people have serious injuries and are being treated under the necessary care.
“I deeply thank the emergency services for their prompt response to address this situation. We will continue to report in a timely manner on the health status of the affected people.”
Solidaridad Civil Protection also released a statement late Saturday regarding the Saturday evening accident.
“The Civil Protection, Risk Prevention and Fire Department, in coordination with emergency services, activated an immediate response operation after the report of the overturning of a LIPU bus on the side street of the Puerto Aventuras bridge.
“The incident involved employees of the Hotel Bahía Príncipe, so a response team was deployed with operational units from Civil Protection, municipal and private sector ambulances, as well as Puerto Aventuras Firefighters, to carry out rescue work and pre-hospital medical care.
“From the first moment, the emergency services carried out the extraction of victims, the classification of injured people (TRIAGE) and the coordination of hospital transfers.
Incident balance:50 injured in total. 14 in yellow code (stable, with moderate injuries) and 36 in green code (stable, with minor injuries).
Transfers and medical care: The transfer of 11 patients to IMSS Hospital 18 was prioritized for specialized care. Later, 15 more injured people were referred to private hospitals in accordance with the company’s insurance.
“Ambulances from the municipality of Tulum arrived to support the emergency. At 6:30 p.m. it was reported that the emergency was under control. Municipal Civil Protection reiterates its commitment to the safety of citizens and calls for staying informed through official sources.”
