Two people have died and at least twelve others were injured after a dramatic crash on one of El Salvador’s busiest streets on Tuesday. Local officials and eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as vehicles collided and debris filled the road, disrupting traffic on a critical urban corridor used by commuters and freight transport alike.
President Nayib Bukele later posted on social media to confirm a new fatality and to provide updates on the injured. He noted that three more individuals are in an emergency condition and that two people are currently on mechanical ventilators. In describing the latest casualty, the president said that the victim had endured severe injuries, with multiple limbs crushed and injuries to the abdomen and lungs, highlighting the urgent medical response that followed the crash. The hospital system, including the SGK General Hospital, faced a heavy patient load as medical teams worked to stabilize the injured and allocate resources to life-saving care.
The national civil defense agency and local media reported that as many as 29 vehicles were struck by a trailer that apparently suffered a mechanical failure. The driver reportedly lost control, setting off the sequence of collisions along a major artery that connects the city center with outlying districts and serves as a critical route for public transportation, freight, and daily commerce. Authorities said the trailer driver was arrested during the investigation process and that evidence indicated alcohol impairment was not involved in the incident. This line of inquiry is part of the ongoing examination to determine fault and responsibility among the involved parties.
Local coverage identified the crash location as the stretch between Monseñor Óscar Romero Boulevard and Los Próceres Avenue, a busy segment where thousands of vehicles pass through each day. The area is known for its importance to both passenger transit and cargo movement, underscoring how an accident of this scale can ripple through traffic flows and emergency services across the city.
One of the two individuals who died was later identified as Edwin Otoniel Vargas Flores, according to the local newspaper El Diario de Hoy. The confirmation of Vargas Flores’s identity underscores the personal impact of the incident on families and communities, and it adds to the ongoing coverage of the event as authorities continue their investigations and hospitals manage a high number of patients with varying degrees of injury.
Authorities have urged residents to stay clear of the affected corridor while crews clear wreckage, assess the damaged trailer, and secure the scene for a thorough review. Investigators are analyzing vehicle telematics, witness statements, and highway camera footage to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine whether mechanical failure, speed, or road conditions contributed to the crash. Emergency responders coordinated closely with hospital teams to triage patients and ensure swift access to critical care for those in life-threatening conditions. While the exact cause remains under review, the incident highlights the importance of vehicle maintenance, safe driving practices, and rapid emergency response on a busy urban spine that supports both daily life and economic activity across the country. The ongoing situation continues to unfold as authorities release new details and update the public on the status of the injured and the investigation, with authorities promising to provide additional information as it becomes available.