Story highlights The bus driver allegedly told officers he had inhaled too much gasoline
Three passengers were injured and five of them critically
This post originally appeared on CNN.
A bus carrying 57 people crashed in central Mexico’s Puebla state Thursday night, killing at least 19 passengers and injuring at least seven.
The bus reportedly crashed into a mountain wall along a highway south of the city of Cholula, blocking both directions of traffic and causing a big delay for other travelers.
Puebla state authorities reported Friday that 19 people were killed and seven seriously injured in the accident, which is still under investigation. Nine other people were injured, and no identities have been released.
During the investigation, authorities said the driver of the bus that crashed reportedly told officers that he inhaled too much gasoline before the crash.
“The bus was en route to Cerro Castillo de San Luis,” CNN reported. “According to the driver, he inhaled gasoline in the fuel tank and the bus crashed.”
At least five of the injured passengers were transported to the hospital in critical condition.
According to Guadalupe Salguero, a top transportation official with Puebla state, the four engines on the bus were found in the burned area.