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Two French And One German Named In The Eight Who Lost Their Lives In Bus Crash Near Cancun
A tragic bus crash on a popular tourist bus line has left eight people dead including three foreign nationals. A further 20 passengers at least have been injured.
The accident took place on Sunday morning as the bus was carrying passengers to Merida in Yucatan from Cancun in Quintana Roo. Merida is a picturesque colonial town, and the route is a popular journey among visitors to the area.
According to reports, 39 passengers were on board when the bus overturned after colliding with a dump truck on the highway. Information is still coming through, but most details confirm the current number of deceased as eight. The crash took place about 70 km from Cancun on the Kantunilkin-Cancún Highway.
Two of the dead have been confirmed as French nationals, and one as a German. A girl as young as 9 years old has also been included in the death toll.
It is currently unclear if the French and German involved were tourists visiting the region or if they have been residents in Mexico for a longer period of time.
The bus company, ADO, is the biggest provider of intercity transport in the area for tourists and locals alike. As Cancun is currently the only airport servicing the region, any visitors hoping to visit Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and many other cities that are further afoot are likely to utilize ADO’s bus systems.
The harrowing pictures shared online show the heavy damage inflicted on the bus, while other outlets shared videos and photos of bodies being removed from the wreckage. One particularly shocking video shows a survivor climbing from the mangled bus seeking help to save another passenger who was trapped inside.
The bus driver was injured and taken to hospital where it is reported his job was terminated. He was then detained by the police, along with the dump truck driver. The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are still being investigated, and whether either driver will be held culpable for the crash is pure speculation at this point.
The crash drew the attention of the governor, who made a statement online that police services and military personnel had been sent to the scene of the crash for support. Carlos Joaquin stated, “Following up on the accident that occurred on the Cancun – Mérida highway, where a passenger bus was involved. Municipal authorities are present and helping the wounded. Our solidarity with the families of the victims.”
The crash is another tragic story stemming from Quintana Roo’s tourist sector. In recent months, the region has come under heavy scrutiny in regard to tourist safety. A rise in gang violence, lack of covid restrictions, and now catastrophic accidents on popular tourist transport have plagued the area.
The success Cancun and Quintana Roo has enjoyed has partly been due to Mexico’s loose restrictions, and it is a valid concern going forward that as the rest of the world opens back up, events such as this could put a question mark over tourist’s travel decisions. World media, unfortunately, pounces upon the worst of the problems and as millions of potential visitors read the troubling headlines it may be hard to sway them from a traditionally “safer” destination.
The arrival of the Maya Train will be highly anticipated in the wake of the recent bus crash. Having a comprehensive, simplistic, and statistically safer way to travel all over the peninsula will go a long way to alleviate any concerns.
ADO will naturally undergo scrutiny as to the training of its drivers as well as its safety protocols. It’s hoped that no glaring issues will arise and that the accident will remain as just that. Regardless, it’s an opportunity for the bus company to assess its current system to ensure it stays as a trusted provider of transport for the millions that travel to Mexico every year.
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