At least six people were killed and 11 others injured when a passenger bus overturned on a highway in Colombia, with investigators examining whether the driver briefly fell asleep behind the wheel.
The devastating crash occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 14, as the bus traveled through the southwestern department of Huila on its way to Bogotá, Colombia’s capital.
The vehicle had departed from San Vicente in the southern department of Caquetá and was traveling along the busy Garzón–Neiva highway when the driver reportedly lost control near the municipality of Rivera.
Within moments, the bus overturned onto its side, leaving passengers trapped or injured and prompting a frantic emergency response.
Videos circulating on social media showed rescue workers rushing to help survivors, with some passengers visibly distraught as emergency crews worked around the wreckage. Injured travelers were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Colombia’s National Police initially confirmed six deaths and 11 injuries, although some local news outlets reported a higher toll of eight fatalities and approximately 20 people injured. Authorities have not yet reconciled the conflicting figures.
The victims’ identities were not immediately released.
As investigators began piecing together what happened, attention turned to a troubling possibility: the driver may have experienced a sudden episode of sleep while operating the bus.
According to a preliminary police report obtained by the Associated Press, authorities suspect the driver may have suffered from “microsleep,” a brief, involuntary period of sleep that can last only a few seconds.
Although such episodes may seem harmless, even a momentary loss of awareness behind the wheel can have devastating consequences, particularly when operating a large vehicle at highway speeds.
Investigators have not confirmed that fatigue caused the crash and are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Col. Edwin Orlando Correa, director of Colombia’s National Police traffic and transportation division, issued a warning to professional drivers following the tragedy, emphasizing that proper rest is essential before beginning a journey.
“We cannot allow tiredness, fatigue, or microsleep to end up becoming a tragedy,” Correa said, urging drivers to stop immediately if they begin feeling drowsy.
“No schedule or commitment is more important than life,” he added.
The National Police also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and offered support to the injured, wishing them a speedy recovery.
Emergency crews eventually removed the overturned bus from the highway, allowing traffic to resume following the rescue and recovery operations.
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