The driver of a water tanker lost control of his truck and crashed at the intersection of the Chapala-Jocotepec highway and the Libramiento bypass on Monday, November 13.
He attributed the accident to the loss of brake power on the approach to the junction from the bypass.
Witnesses saw the tanker veer sharply and flip on its side as the driver attempted a futile left turn left at the traffic light. Fortunately, no other vehicles were passing the collision point at that moment. The driver escaped the incident with only minor injuries.
Similar accidents involving large trucks experiencing brake failure have previously occurred at this treacherous intersection, some causing serious injuries and fatalities to motorists and passengers who happened to cross their paths.
Government officials have repeatedly vacillated about installing an emergency escape ramp for runaway trucks. However, open space adjacent to the roadway appears to be too short and too narrow to serve that purpose. The series of speed bumps put up on the last curve before the intersection have not effectively prevented some accident cases. And traffic signage prohibits truck drivers from utilizing noisy engine braking to slow down along the last leg of Libramiento.