Oaxaca, Mexico— Four people died Saturday when a tourist van overturned on a highway in Oaxaca, a winding mountain route that connects the capital to the Pacific coast.
The van was carrying 10 passengers from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido when it crashed near the village of Miahuatlán. Around 9:30 a.m. The driver lost control on a curve, hit a ditch, and rolled. The van landed on its roof.
Civil Protection said four passengers died at the scene, including two foreign nationals. Their nationalities have not been confirmed. Six others were injured, two critically. They were taken to IMSS Hospital in Miahuatlán.
The van belonged to a local tour agency that runs budget transfers to the coast. Witnesses said it was going fast. The road was wet from overnight rain. Tires screamed, then silence.
"The van was bouncing. It went off the shoulder and flipped," a local vendor who sells coffee near the curve said. "We ran. Some were trapped. We used a crowbar to open the door."
The Oaxaca-Puerto Escondido highway is newly paved but dangerous. Steep grades, tight turns, no guardrails in sections. Accidents are common, especially with vans that do multiple trips a day.
State Police said the driver, 29, survived and is detained. He told investigators he swerved to avoid a pothole. Inspectors will check if the van was overloaded and if its brakes were worn. No alcohol was detected.
Tourism officials in Oaxaca said the agency had a valid permit but had been flagged last year for speeding. The state transport secretariat has suspended its operations pending review.
The highway was closed for two hours. Traffic was backed up with tourist buses and trucks. Tow crews struggled to right the van.
The bodies were taken to the forensic service in Oaxaca City. The injured remain under observation.
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