In the early hours of this Tuesday, A tragic accident shook Route 92 in Santiago del Estero. A van traveling at high speed ran over a group of students from the Agrotechnical College, who were stranded on the road due to a mechanical failure of the bus in which they were traveling.. The incident left Alejandra Gómez, a 17-year-old girl, dead and 18 students injured.
The accident
The accident took place between the towns of Quimilí and Otumpa. The bus transporting the students suffered a mechanical failure, forcing the driver to stop the vehicle in the middle of the route. The students got off the bus to assess the situation and, while they were waiting for assistance, a Hilux van, which was coming at high speed, hit them..
According to witnesses, The students tried to warn the driver of the van by signaling him with the lights of their cell phones, but the driver was unable to see them in time and ended up running over the group.. “The vehicles were braking, but that truck came very hard and dragged everyone. The driver told the police that he had no way because on the other side there was also a vehicle with beacons and that’s why he went down to the shoulder,” said one of the students.
Victims and injured
The deceased teenager was identified as Alejandra Gómez. The other 18 injured students were taken to various hospitals in the region in serious condition.. Authorities have not released further details about the severity of the injuries, but some of the injured are expected to require extended medical care.
The crash has left a deep shock in the community. Witnesses to the crash described the desperation and chaos that followed the impact. “The students flashed their cell phones at the driver, but he didn’t see them and ran over them,” said one of those present.. The presence of another vehicle with beacons at the scene further complicated the situation, as the driver of the truck explained to the police.
Research and measurements
Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the accident and possible responsibilities. It is expected that measures will be taken to improve safety on that section of Route 92, which is frequently traveled by high-speed vehicles.
