One of the region’s busiest roadways was gridlocked for hours Wednesday after a tractor-trailer lost control and slammed into several vehicles along the Mexico-Querétaro Highway, stopping traffic and prompting a large emergency response.
Authorities said the trailer was headed toward Mexico City when the driver was unable to slow down near the Jorobas interchange in the municipality of Huehuetoca in the State of Mexico, the accident occurring near kilometre 59.
Initial reports say the truck first struck a roadside embankment and then collided with at least five passenger cars and a pickup truck.
The impact sent the caravan jackknifing across the highway, blocking all northbound lanes and causing long backups as emergency responders rushed to the scene.
Witnesses to the crash described a frightening chain of events as cars tried to avoid the out-of-control truck.
Several drivers reported steady rain had already made the road slick with reduced visibility and longer stopping distances. Authorities believe the wet pavement may have played a role, but investigators have not yet determined the cause of the accident.
Police officers quickly secured the scene as firefighters, paramedics and highway emergency crews worked to help those involved and prevent additional crashes. Responders treated injured motorists and checked out damaged vehicles as the crash site was cleared.
Fortunately, there were no fatalities or life-threatening injuries, officials confirmed.
A number of people suffered minor injuries in the crash and were treated at the scene. The victims were taken to local hospitals for further evaluation, while others were able to leave after being checked out by emergency personnel as a precaution.
Heavy recovery equipment was called in to remove the damaged caravan and clean up debris that was strewn across several lanes. Cleanup operations continued all day.
The closure led to major delays for commuters and commercial traffic between the State of Mexico and the capital, with congestion extending several kilometres from the crash site, authorities said.
Transportation officials urged drivers to avoid the area when possible and use alternate routes until all lanes could be safely reopened.
The incident has again brought to the fore the difficulties of driving in heavy rain, especially on highways with high volumes of commercial traffic.
Road safety experts say wet pavement can add a lot of distance to the braking distance of heavy trucks, making it much more difficult to stop suddenly.
The risk of serious crashes is higher when visibility is reduced, there is standing water and tyre traction is reduced, if drivers do not change their speed to suit the changing road conditions.
Authorities continue to urge motorists to slow down in adverse weather, leave extra space between vehicles and use extra caution when driving near large trucks or other heavy commercial vehicles.
Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the condition of the vehicle, road conditions, weather and possible mechanical issues, in an effort to determine what caused the driver to lose control.
Officials say the findings could help determine whether additional safety measures are needed to reduce the risk of similar incidents on one of Mexico’s busiest transport corridors.
The accident caused extensive damage to vehicles and hours of traffic disruption, but many residents were relieved that no lives were lost.
Cleanup operations were winding down, and traffic was slowly getting back to normal.
Officials were lauding emergency responders for quickly getting on the same page, and they were urging drivers to be patient and cautious whenever travel conditions are hampered by bad weather.