Truck loses brakes, runs into religious procession in Mexico, killing 16 and

A truck has ploughed into a crowd of Catholic pilgrims after losing its brakes in northern central Mexico, killing at least 16 people and injuring 30 others, authorities said.

A Red Cross source reported the same death toll.

The government of the north-central state of Zacatecas said in a statement that heavy truck was carrying building materials when it ran into the group of local Catholics the accident in Mazapil. Witnesses say that the truck was travelling at excessive speed and it’s brakes failed when it tried to stop, but too late.

The town was celebrating the festival of its patron, Jesus Nazareno, with a procession to the church of San Gregorio Magno.

The truck driver fled the scene of the tragedy, according to the civil protection official.

Zacatecas Gov. Miguel Alonso Reyes expressed his condolences and ordered the immediate support of the injured and the families of crash victims. The State Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation.