Mexican Bus and Chemical Tanker Collide, 38 Dead
Date: 18-Nov-05
Country: MEXICO
"Almost all the passengers on the bus died. Some of their deaths were caused by the substance (ammonia) and not the impact," a spokesman for the public security ministry in the state of Sinaloa said by telephone.
Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia, a colorless, pungent gas used in the production of fertilizers and explosives, can be fatal.
Police said the tanker's brakes failed and it hit the bus, which plunged more than 65 feet (20 metres) into a ravine and ended up on its roof in Tuesday's crash near the city of Los Mochis in Sinaloa.
"The accident also caused ammonia gas to leak, making it difficult for police and emergency teams to reach the area," police said in a statement.
