A collision between a dump truck and a private vehicle caused the death of four people at kilometer 89 of the highway connecting Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa and Siquinalá, in the department of Escuintla, Guatemala, during the afternoon of Sunday, July 26, 2026. According to reports from the Municipal Departmental Firefighters, the impact left the deceased trapped among the twisted metal of the vehicles.
The spokesperson for the Municipal Departmental Firefighters, Cecilio Chacaj, explained that rescue personnel located three of the victims inside the smaller unit, where it was necessary to use specialized tools to recover the bodies. A fourth person was found on the asphalt, next to the vehicles involved.
The pickup truck was destroyed and the dump truck overturned on the road, which forced a partial closure of the highway in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa.
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In images released by local media, a pickup truck is seen completely destroyed and the dump truck overturned on the road. Due to the magnitude of the accident, Volunteer Firefighters and municipal firefighters coordinated the partial closure of the highway to attend to the emergency, while the asphalt remained wet from recent rains in the region.
Identity of the victims and family context
According to official information, the authorities managed to identify the four deceased as:
- Francisca Rosales Díaz de Cortave
- Mario Giovanni García Rivera
- Elmer Nehemías Cortave
- Edvin Orlando Atz Moxó, the latter was driving the SUV and had been hired by the family for the trip.
A child of the couple survived, although he was injured and was first taken to the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, before being referred to the Regional Hospital of Escuintla.
The family resided in San Miguel Petapa and had traveled to the Las Cruces community, in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, to pay a family visit.
The family from San Miguel Petapa was traveling from the Las Cruces community when the crash occurred, and Francisca Rosales left a voice message for her brother before the return trip
Before returning, Francisca Rosales sent a voice message to her brother, Cosme Rosales, in which she expressed: “I’m leaving my dad in your care, he was left crying. Take good care of yourself too”. These words turned out to be her final farewell.
Actions of the authorities and situation of the person responsible
Following the crash, agents of the National Civil Police (PNC) secured the area while awaiting the Public Ministry, which is responsible for initiating investigations to clarify the circumstances of the accident. The Directorate of Protection and Road Safety (Provial) deployed several agents to coordinate traffic and ensure safety in the sector, where one of the lanes remained closed.
Initial inquiries indicate that the dump truck driver fled the scene after the collision. Authorities continue to work to establish the precise causes of the incident and locate the person responsible.
Community reaction and consequences
The impact of the accident was felt in the Volunteer Firefighters community, which expressed solidarity with one of its members following the loss of three direct relatives in the event. Local media outlets released images evidencing the severity of the collision, confirming the presence of a deceased woman on the road and an occupant of the pickup truck wearing a white and light blue soccer jersey.
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The incident underscores the risks of traveling under adverse weather conditions and the importance of road safety on highly trafficked routes. Official investigations are ongoing to determine responsibilities and prevent similar events.
