San Luis Potosí, Mexico — Six people died and another injured after a head-on collision between a tractor trailer and a pickup truck.
The accident occurred along the Pila-Villa de Arriaga highway outside San Luis Potosi around 11:20 a.m. when the driver of the trailer lost control of his unit, partially leaving the highway. In a bid to regain control, the driver pulled his unit back onto the highway, which is when he met the pickup truck carrying a family of six.
The impact was substantial, completely collapsing the front of the truck. The cabin of the trailer quickly caught fire. Five of the six passengers inside the truck, including two minor children, were killed.
Passing motorists called for emergency personnel. Members of Civil Protection and the fire department arrived on scene along with ambulances, however, there was nothing they could do for the victims.
Personnel from the fire department used the jaws of life to remove the deceased from the truck as well as put out the burning tractor trailer unit that was carrying a load of metal structures. The deceased have been identified as Gloria, 65, Julieta, 41, María Fernanda, 21 and Julia Keila and Carito, both 13. All were from the municipality of Villa de Arriaga.
The driver of the tractor trailer, 68-year-old Fransisco N, was also killed. The only survivor was 15-year-old Luis Armando, who was part of the family traveling in the pick up truck. He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.