On the early morning of Sunday, April 28, 2024, a tragic bus accident occurred on the fringes of Mexico City, Mexico. The bus was transporting pilgrims to the holy Señor de Chalma sanctuary when it veered off the road, resulting in an accident that took 18 lives and injured 32 people.
The bus had started its journey in San Luis de la Paz in Guanajuato State and had the accident near Malinalco in southern Mexico State, an area that envelops the capital city from three sides.
The bus was heading towards the Chalma sanctuary, the second most visited pilgrimage site in Mexico attracting thousands of pilgrims each year, when the accident happened. The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, but the immediate consequences were disastrous.
The Secretary of Security reported that 14 passengers were declared dead at the scene. Those injured were immediately transported to nearby hospitals, where four additional passengers succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total death toll to 18.
Local media captured images of residents offering water and blankets to the distressed relatives of the victims, demonstrating a swift and heartfelt response to the tragedy. “It was a reflex to help,” one resident said, encapsulating the sense of community that often emerges in times of crisis.
State prosecutors from both Mexico and Guanajuato states are providing support to the families of the victims, helping them navigate the complexities of such a sudden and large-scale emergency.
Delfina Gómez Álvarez, the governor of Mexico State, has pledged to assess transportation policies and infrastructure, focusing particularly on safety precautions for buses traveling on pilgrimage routes, which are frequently used by large groups.
As the investigation proceeds, the families of those affected are demanding transparency and accountability. They hope that their loss will prompt actions that could help avoid such tragedies in the future.
