Valencia, Venezuela— Three people were killed in a multi-vehicle pileup on a regional highway in Carabobo on October 16, 2026, and the crash left five vehicles tangled across both lanes. The road was wet. Braking failed.
Carabobo state traffic police said the pileup began when a cargo truck lost control on the Valencia-Puerto Cabello highway near the El Palito curve. It jackknifed, striking two cars, then was hit by a fourth vehicle from behind. A fifth car swerved to avoid and hit the median. Chain reaction.
Firefighters cut open two sedans to extract victims. Three were declared dead at the scene, all in the smaller cars. Four others were injured, including the truck driver, who suffered a leg fracture. The highway was closed for more than three hours.
A driver who escaped with minor injuries said, "It rained, then oil on the road. The truck slid. We all crashed into each other. No one could stop." The stretch is known for poor drainage and oil spills from refinery trucks. Warnings exist. Repairs do not.
El Universal reported that the highway is a key route for fuel and industrial cargo between the coast and central Venezuela. Truck traffic is heavy, road maintenance is sporadic, and lighting is absent in sections. Pileups have increased during rainy season.
A paramedic from the Carabobo rescue service said, "We had to work under traffic. Vehicles kept coming. We used the truck itself to block the lane." He said one victim was trapped for 40 minutes before tools arrived.
The truck company, which transports chemicals, said its driver had 15 years of experience and the vehicle had new tires. That will be checked. The National Transport Institute said it will audit brake systems and cargo logs. No charges have been filed.
The governor's office issued a brief statement expressing condolences and announcing a review of signage on the curve. No timeline was given. Relatives of the dead arrived at the Valencia morgue by evening.
The wreckage was towed to a police yard. The highway reopened with a long queue. Oil and glass remained on the asphalt.
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