10-Year-Old Girl Killed on Her Birthday... Three Dead in Colombia Monster Truck Accident

Investigation Underway Into Cause of Accident, Including Possible Brake Malfunction

At an outdoor motorsports event in Colombia, a monster truck charged into the stands, resulting in the deaths of three people, including two children, and injuring approximately 40 others.

Monster Truck That Caused the Accident. X (X - Formerly Twitter)

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and other media outlets on May 5 (local time), the incident occurred on May 3 at an outdoor motorsports event in Popayán, Cauca Department, in southwestern Colombia. A monster truck drove toward the crowd. A monster truck refers to a modified vehicle, typically a regular truck or sports utility vehicle (SUV), fitted with oversized tires.

At the time of the accident, the monster truck had performed stunts and jumped over obstacles before making a right turn. It then reportedly lost control and surged toward the stands. Video footage of the incident shows spectators running to avoid the vehicle. The monster truck only came to a stop after colliding with a roadside tree.

The accident resulted in three fatalities and at least 38 injuries. Among the deceased was a 10-year-old girl, Helen Velarde, who had visited the event to celebrate her birthday. Helen’s grandfather, Miller Velarde, criticized the event, saying there were "essentially no safety measures in place" and called it a "crime." His grandchild also suffered a head injury, underwent surgery, and is currently being treated in the intensive care unit.

Local authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident, including the possibility of mechanical failure such as a brake malfunction. Juan Carlos Muñoz, the mayor of Popayán, stated in a press release, "We have launched an investigation into the accident and will mobilize all administrative resources to respond." He added, "We express our deepest solidarity to the victims and their families." He also reported that he visited the hospital to check on the condition of those injured.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.