One of the greatest road tragedies that has struck the National Police in recent years occurred this Wednesday on the El Rodeo slope, on the CA-5 highway, where at least seven police officers died and more than twenty were injured after a violent accident between an institutional bus and a semi-trailer truck.
According to preliminary information provided by police authorities, approximately 35 uniformed officers were traveling in the transport unit, returning from the city of Comayagua after carrying out duties related to the delivery of police uniforms.
The Director of Strategic Communication of the National Police, Commissioner Wilber Mayes Ríos, confirmed that among the fatalities are five men and two women, while several of the injured were rushed to different medical centers due to the severity of their wounds.
The uniformed officers were returning from a mission related to the delivery of police uniforms.
According to initial reports, the accident occurred when a semi-trailer truck struck the left side of the police bus while both vehicles were traveling along the dangerous El Rodeo slope, one of the busiest and highest-risk sections of the CA-5 highway.
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The exact circumstances of the mishap remain under investigation. However, preliminary reports indicate that the heavy vehicle had invaded the lane where the National Police bus was traveling. Authorities reported that the truck driver is being held for questioning while the corresponding investigations are carried out.
The images show a traffic accident on a highway. A white bus or van is severely damaged and partially overturned. Numerous people, including uniformed personnel, are assisting individuals lying on the asphalt. Debris from the vehicles is scattered across the road. Large trucks are stopped on the road. The sequence records the emergency response to a multi-vehicle collision in a wooded area.
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Following the impact, teams from the Fire Department, Red Cross, Copeco personnel, police, and paramedics quickly mobilized to the area to attend to the injured and coordinate rescue efforts.
Through an official statement, the Permanent Contingency Commission (Copeco) expressed its condolences to the National Police and the families of the deceased officers, in addition to confirming that response and pre-hospital care teams were activated from the very first moment to support emergency efforts.
“We join in the grief that overwhelms the Honduran police family at the loss of valuable public servants who dedicated their work to the protection and security of the population,” the institution stated in its pronouncement.
The event is considered one of the most serious accidents to have affected the police institution in recent years. They were heading back to the department of El Paraíso after having gone to collect institutional equipment in Comayagua.
Meanwhile, local hospitals remain on alert to treat the injured officers, some of whom have significant wounds.
The tragic event caused national consternation and generated multiple messages of solidarity from government institutions, relief agencies, and citizens who mourned the loss of the uniformed officers.
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The police bus was severely destroyed after the impact recorded on the CA-5.
The authorities continue working on the official identification of all the victims and on the collection of evidence that will allow the mechanics of the accident to be clarified.
The CA-5 highway, especially in the El Rodeo sector, has been the scene of numerous traffic accidents due to the high volume of vehicles and the constant circulation of heavy transport. Investigations will determine in the coming hours the corresponding responsibilities in this new event that mourns Honduras.
