Potosí, Bolivia – A devastating bus accident in the southern Bolivian region of Potosí has claimed the lives of 31 people, authorities confirmed on Monday. The tragedy occurred when a passenger bus collided with a truck and subsequently careened off a highway, plummeting approximately 500 meters into a ravine.   

The accident took place on the Oruro-Potosí highway, near the town of Las Leñas. According to police reports, the collision resulted in the bus plunging down the steep slope, leading to the catastrophic loss of life. Among the deceased were at least four minors. In addition to the fatalities, 22 individuals sustained injuries and are receiving medical treatment.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the truck driver is believed to be responsible for the accident. Authorities allege that the driver invaded the oncoming lane, causing the collision. The truck driver has been apprehended and is currently under police custody while receiving treatment in a nearby medical facility.

Tragically, this incident marks the second major bus accident in the Potosí region within a span of three days. On Saturday, a head-on collision between two buses near Uyuni resulted in the deaths of 37 people, casting a pall over the region's Carnival celebrations.   

The passenger bus involved in Monday's accident had departed from Oruro, where the renowned Carnaval de Oruro, one of Latin America's largest festivals, had just concluded. The festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.

This latest tragedy has once again highlighted concerns regarding road safety in Bolivia. The country grapples with a high incidence of traffic accidents, often attributed to factors such as inadequate road infrastructure, insufficient vehicle maintenance, and driver error.

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