LIMA, May 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least eight people were killed after a passenger van collided head-on with a tractor-trailer in central Peru’s Pasco region on Monday, local media reported.
The crash occurred around 8:00 a.m. local time at kilometer 157 of the central highway when the vehicle involved was heading from Pasco to Huariaca.
“So far we have eight deaths, including three minors, students at the Antioquia Educational Institution,” said Martin Berrospi, mayor of the Huariaca district, adding that authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact causes of the accident.
Berrospi said the highway was in dire need of repairs and called on the national government to better maintain the roadway to avoid further accidents.
In the second accident, at least eight people were killed and seven others injured after a passenger vehicle ran off the road and plunged into a ravine in northwest Peru on Sunday, local media reported.
The accident occurred Sunday night when the vehicle involved left the road near the Chucchus Bridge at the junction of the Marca district in the province of Recuay, Ancash region, and then plunged into a ravine about 400 meters deep until it reached a river, state-run news agency Andina reported.
The driver was reported dead at the scene, and the injured were taken to nearby health centers.
The vehicle was a minivan of the Purito Chavin company, which was heading to the city of Huacho, the report said.
Police and firefighters have arrived at the scene to assist in the rescue work, while authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. — NNN-XINHUA
