A holy procession ends in tragedy
July 30, 2015
The dump truck was loaded with sand when it crashed into the procession of around 200 people heading into a Catholic church in the state of Zacatecas in north-central Mexico, officials said.
The truck "was apparently left without brakes and struck the crowd," authorities told AFP. Despite hitting and dragging a van that was in its path, the dump truck tumbled into the people at the end of the line of pilgrims.
The truck driver fled the scene. The truck was registered property of a company called Industrial Construction and Transportation.
Local sources say between 16 and 20 people were killed, and between 30 and 36 injured. The accident occurred shortly after 7:00 pm local time.
The worshippers were taking part in a pilgrimage to the San Gregorio Magno church in the town of Mazapil, which started on Sunday.
Local municipalities had to lend support as there were not enough ambulances on the scene to transport the injured. People were eventually taken to the hospital in several other states. The pilgrams who were not injured were allowed to continue the procession with a police escort and an ambulance nearby.
mes/jil (AFP, dpa, EFE)