In an incident that paralyzed morning traffic and once again exposed the vulnerabilities of federal highways nationwide, an ADO bus and a trailer caught fire after a rear-end collision on Highway 150D Córdoba-Veracruz. The accident, which occurred around 9:00 a.m. this Tuesday, left 13 people injured, although all in stable condition, and caused traffic chaos that affected hundreds of drivers.
No fatalities were reported, but the incident highlights the poor safety measures on one of the busiest corridors in southeastern Mexico.
The accident occurred at kilometer 33+200, on the Cuitláhuac-La Tinaja section, in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Veracruz, just a few meters from the Cuitláhuac toll booth.
According to witnesses and initial reports from authorities, the tractor-trailer—a double-trailer presumably loaded with beer—struck the ADO passenger bus, which was heading toward Veracruz or possibly Xalapa, with at least 12 occupants and the driver on board.
The bus driver, identified as one of the evacuees, was maneuvering at a moderate speed when the tractor-trailer, for reasons still under investigation—possibly mechanical failure or distraction while driving—violently collided with the rear of the public transport vehicle.
The impact was so brutal that it immediately ruptured the fuel tanks of both buses, sparking a raging fire that consumed the bus in a matter of minutes.
Videos captured by drivers and local residents, shared on social media, show flames up to several meters high engulfing the body of the ADO bus, while the tractor-trailer began to burn on its trailer.
“The fire spread like hell; passengers were screaming and running,” a witness from the area reported in a Facebook post, recording the moment firefighters fought the flames with improvised hoses.
The emergency response was immediate and coordinated. Members of the National Guard cordoned off the area to prevent looting—a recurring problem in cargo accidents—although preliminary reports indicate that some local residents attempted to loot the trailer before police intervention.
Firefighters from the municipalities of Cuitláhuac and Córdoba, along with paramedics, arrived on the scene just after 9:30 a.m. Using specialized equipment, they extinguished the blaze in approximately 45 minutes, although the vehicles were reduced to charred rubble.
“The task forces acted quickly to evacuate the injured and control the fire,” a spokesperson for the Veracruz Civil Protection Secretariat confirmed in an official statement.
Of the bus occupants, 13 people suffered minor burns, bruises, and contusions from the impact. All were transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals, such as the one in Córdoba and the Veracruz Regional Hospital, where they are reported to be in stable, non-life-threatening condition. The injured have not been publicly identified, but preliminary medical sources indicate that most are adults, including women and possibly minors.
The truck driver, who was unharmed, was detained to give a statement to federal authorities.
The road closure was complete in the Veracruz-bound lane, lasting more than three hours and causing a backup of vehicles at least 5 kilometers long. The National Guard and CAPUFE personnel diverted traffic to alternate routes, such as the parallel state highway, which caused congestion at secondary access points. The highway was partially reopened by 2:00 p.m., but with speed restrictions and reinforced police presence.
This stretch of Highway 150D, known for its heavy cargo and passenger traffic, has been the scene of multiple accidents in recent years, with an average of 20 accidents per year reported by the SCT (Ministry of Transportation and Transport), many attributed to driver fatigue and poor maintenance of heavy vehicles.
The material losses are significant: the ADO bus, a recent model valued at around 3 million pesos, was completely destroyed, along with the trailer and its cargo, estimated at hundreds of thousands of pesos.
The ADO bus company issued a statement expressing solidarity with those affected and promising logistical support to relocate passengers.
Investigators from the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) inspected the site, collecting evidence such as brake pads and fuel samples to determine the exact cause.
“We are analyzing whether there was negligence or technical failures; the priority is user safety,” a SICT official stated at an impromptu press conference.
Source: diariodemorelos
