Tragedy Strikes as 10 Cuban Migrants Lose Lives in Mexican Truck Crash
A heartbreaking incident unfolded in southern Mexico, near the border with Guatemala, when a freight truck carrying Cuban migrants met with a tragic accident. The outcome was devastating, with at least 10 individuals losing their lives and another 17 left with severe injuries.
Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that the driver of the truck was traveling at a high speed, ultimately losing control of the vehicle.
According to an official from the state prosecutor’s office, these migrants had been resorting to hitchhiking on passing vehicles, reflecting the challenges faced by many in their desperate pursuit of a better life.
The National Immigration Institute reported that all the Cuban migrants who lost their lives were women, and sadly, one of them was underage.
The ill-fated truck, which carried a total of 27 migrants, appeared to have been speeding at the time of the accident, leading to the loss of control. Tragically, the driver fled the scene, compounding the tragedy.
This devastating incident occurred on a highway near the town of Pijijiapan, as images depicted the truck on its side with victims scattered along the highway. The situation has underscored the perilous journey migrants undertake, often relying on rides from passing vehicles.
Mexican authorities typically restrict migrants without proper documentation from using buses, leaving those unable to pay human smugglers with no choice but to walk alongside highways and hitch rides on trucks.
Regrettably, this incident adds to the growing number of migrant casualties in Mexico as many continue their journey towards the U.S. border.
In a separate incident, a migrant from Ecuador lost their life, and 10 others from Colombia and Guatemala sustained injuries when a van operated by Mexico’s immigration agency collided with a bus in the city of Mexicali, situated across the border from Calexico, California.
Tragically, two Mexican migrants were fatally shot on the Mexican side of the border the previous day, with three more suffering gunshot wounds. The cause of the shooting remains unclear, but it is a grim reminder of the dangers and risks faced by migrants, including potential disputes with local cartels or clashes over passage rights.
Furthermore, in Chiapas, a truck overturned on the highway, resulting in the death of two Central American migrants and injuries to 27 others. Startlingly, 52 migrants were crammed into the overcrowded truck when the driver lost control, leading to an overturn. Thankfully, they were granted legal asylum status as victims of a crime on Mexican territory, highlighting the compassion amid the tragedy.
Lastly, two Central American migrants lost their lives while attempting to board a moving train near the Texas border in the state of Coahuila.