Last Tuesday, January 27, a brutal crash at kilometer 45 of the Pan-American Highway, El Cabuyal sector (Caldono), claimed the lives of eight people.

The emergency involved a tractor-trailer loaded with food and a public service bus, which collided head-on, causing an immediate fire that consumed the cargo vehicle in a matter of seconds.

Among the confirmed fatalities are the drivers of both vehicles: Juan Carlos, who drove the tractor-trailer, and Fernando Galvis, driver of the bus.

Galvis was traveling with his wife, Natalia; Both were well-known inhabitants of the San Carlos neighborhood in Timbío. The tragedy also affected children, as a nine-year-old minor, identified as Diego and who was under ICBF protection, died while being transferred to a care center due to the severity of his injuries after the strong crash.

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The traffic authorities handle as the main hypothesis a lane invasion coupled with excessive speed by one of the vehicles.

The crash was of such magnitude that the truck’s fuel tanks exploded, making the initial rescue efforts difficult as workers on the dual carriageway tried to overtake it with hand-held fire extinguishers.

Currently, two people remain in critical condition with a reserved prognosis in medical centers in Popayán.

The Pan-American highway was closed for more than seven hours while the fire departments of Tunía, Piendamó and Santander de Quilichao controlled the conflagration and the CTI of the Prosecutor’s Office carried out the removal of the bodies.

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