At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured after a school bus carrying students from Liceo Antioqueno High School crashed and fell off a cliff in northern Colombia on Sunday, Dec. 14, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred around 5:40 a.m. local time on a road connecting Remedios and Zaragoza in the El Chispero area of Antioquia state.
The bus was transporting students who had been celebrating their graduation at the beach in the Caribbean town of Tolu and were returning to Medellin when the vehicle rolled approximately 80 meters, about 262 feet, down a ravine. The vehicle had been carrying passengers when it left the roadway for reasons still under investigation by Colombian authorities.
Governor of Antioquia Andres Julian announced the incident in a post on social media, noting the devastating impact on the community. He said the students had been celebrating their graduation on the beach before the accident occurred.
Among the fatalities was the bus driver, identified as Johnatan Taborda Cocacolo, who worked for the tourist transportation company Precultur. Members of the Antioquia tourism network expressed their condolences to his family, friends and colleagues following news of his death. Industry sources indicated the driver was returning from the Caribbean coast to Medellin at the time of the accident.
The injured were transported to hospitals in Segovia and Remedios for treatment. Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Inclusion identified that the injured included four adults and 12 minors. Edwin Castaneda, mayor of Segovia, reported on the injuries sustained in the crash.
Authorities have hypothesized that the driver may have experienced a microsleep at the time of the crash, though the exact cause remains under investigation. A microsleep is a brief lapse in consciousness during which an individual loses and then regains awareness. This phenomenon can be particularly dangerous when operating vehicles, as drivers may temporarily lose control without realizing what has occurred.
The school clarified that the outing was not an official school activity and had instead been organized directly by the 11th-grade students themselves. The trip was arranged by members of the graduating class of 2025, who had planned the beach celebration independently of the school administration.
Following the incident, Liceo Antioqueno High School issued a statement on its social media channels expressing sorrow over the loss. “We deeply regret what happened to our students and their families,” the school stated. The institution also changed its profile picture to a black ribbon, symbolizing mourning for the victims of the accident.
A vigil was held in Medellin on Sunday night, where attendees gathered to honor those lost in the accident. The somber gathering provided an opportunity for the community to come together and remember the victims.
Colombia’s National Road Safety Agency released a press release addressing the incident, stating that it deeply regrets the road accident. “At this time, the competent authorities are conducting investigations to determine the causes of the accident and confirm the number of fatalities and injuries,” the agency said.
The agency emphasized the importance of road safety in its statement, noting that conscious and responsible behavior by all road users saves lives. Officials reminded everyone of the importance of respecting traffic laws and avoiding risky behavior on the roads in order to prevent similar incidents that deeply impact Colombian families.
The Ministry of Transportation and the National Road Safety Agency reiterated their commitment to investigating the causes of the accident thoroughly. The investigation will examine all factors that may have contributed to the bus leaving the roadway and falling down the cliff, including the condition of the vehicle, road conditions at the time and the driver’s state at the time of the incident.
Road accidents involving buses carrying multiple passengers often raise significant concerns about transportation safety, particularly when the vehicles are traveling on mountainous terrain where roadways can be narrow and winding. The investigation into this incident will likely focus on whether all safety protocols were followed and whether any mechanical issues contributed to the crash.
The incident has cast a shadow over what should have been a joyful time for the graduating class of 2025. The students had organized the trip to celebrate their academic achievements and mark the end of their time at the school, making the outcome particularly devastating for the school community and the families affected.
As authorities continue their investigation, the focus remains on providing support to the injured and the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. The entire hospital network in the region was activated to attend to and support the emergency response, ensuring that all injured passengers received appropriate medical care.
