Truck Carrying Steel Bars Overturns on Highway 180, Killing One and Injuring Two

Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo — A truck carrying several tons of steel bars overturned on Highway 180 on Saturday, killing a 72-year-old man and leaving two people critically injured and trapped in the cab.

The accident occurred on the stretch connecting San Felipe and Santo Domingo. According to initial reports, the truck was heading toward Cancún when the driver lost stability after veering too close to the shoulder on a narrow section. The weight of the load and lack of space caused the tires to leave the asphalt, leading to the rollover that left the truck upside down.

A 911 call mobilized local emergency teams, who began rescue efforts. The cab sustained severe damage, prompting firefighters from Puerto Morelos to assist in freeing the people trapped in the twisted metal.

For several hours, rescuers used hydraulic equipment to cut through the truck’s structure and extract the two injured individuals. They were stabilized at the scene and transported in critical condition to hospitals in Cancún.

Authorities confirmed the death of the 72-year-old man, whose body remained trapped in the wreckage. Forensic personnel conducted necessary procedures before transferring him to the medical examiner’s office.

Traffic on the highway was partially closed as National Guard officers coordinated flow and oversaw efforts to remove the vehicle and the steel bars scattered across the pavement.