One dead and four injured in pile-up in Frutillar

FRUTILLAR.- A Jac company bus traveling from Angol to Puerto Montt with 42 passengers on board rear-ended a truck this morning on Route 5 south by the Frutillar exit. One person was killed and 17 were injured as a result of the impact, four of whom are currently in critical condition.

A smaller vehicle was also involved in the crash when it slammed into the bus from behind and ended up trapped against the retaining wall.

The fatal victim was identified as Pedro Zúñiga, the driver of the bus. Those severely injured were taken to the Hospital Base of Puerto Montt.

According to what was reported at the time of the collision, the majority of the passengers were sleeping at the time of the crash and when they realized what had happened they began to break the windows of the bus and jump out onto the highway.

The cause of the accident has been attributed to the current lack of visibility in the zone due to the smoke from forest fires.