Tractor-trailer without brakes kills 9 people, damages dozens of buildings in northern Mexico

By Olga R. Rodriguez
ASSOCIATED PRESS
2:26 a.m. April 2, 2007

MONTERREY, Mexico – A tractor-trailer lost its brakes and killed nine people as it plowed through a residential area in this northern industrial city.

The driver of the rig towing two trailers loaded with 66 tons of steel tubes lost control of the vehicle Sunday on a major avenue of the Monterrey suburb of Santa Catarina and crashed into pedestrians, cars, dozens of buildings, utility poles and traffic lights before coming to a halt, said Jorge Vargas, civil protection director of Santa Catarina, on Multimedios TV.

Vargas said the truck finally stopped as it hit a building and caught fire, leaving behind a 2.5-mile trail of destruction.

“I just heard a roar, sort of like an earthquake,” said Ramon Sanchez, who witnessed the wreck, in an interview with Multimedios.

Santa Catarina Mayor Dionisio Herrera said nine people were killed and seven injured.

And there are those in Congress who would allow Mexican big rigs in the country without inspection and certification? You wnat this happening in your town? -mm