At least five people were killed and more than 50 injured in a massive car crash involving more than 50 vehicles near Santiago, Chile, on Wednesday, according to media reports.
The incident occurred on the east side of Route 68, which connects the city of Valaparaiso to Santiago, around 7 a.m. local time. The vehicles involved included 23 trucks, 17 smaller cars, and 11 buses, NTD Television reported, citing Chile’s Transportation Minister Pedro Pablo Errazuriz.
“It was a massive accident and unfortunately people died in very dramatic ways,” Pablo said.
Health Minister Jaime Manalich called the crash a “truly horrific” scene and said it “is probably the most serious accident that has ever happened on this expressway,” according to The Santiago Times.
Police are investigating the cause of the pileup but it is suspected that dense fog and smoke in the area contributed to low visibility and likely factored into the crash.
Recalling the incident, one bus driver, Hernan Donoso, told NTD, “I was driving [the bus] at the time and tried to slam all the emergency breaks I had and here we are. If I hadn’t used them I wouldn’t be here with you now.”
The crash snarled traffic all day on Wednesday, leaving cars backed up for miles, according to the television station.
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