On Dec. 14 a school bus carrying about 37 passengers plunged roughly 80 meters off a rural road in El Chispero, Antioquia, killing at least 16 people and injuring 20. Authorities say the driver may have suffered a brief lapse of consciousness known as a "microsleep," though investigations are ongoing. Hospitals in Segovia and Remedios treated the injured; the trip was organized by 11th‑grade students and was not an official school excursion.
At Least 16 Killed and 20 Injured After School Bus Plunges Off Cliff in Colombia; Driver May Have Suffered 'Microsleep'
RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via GettyAn ambulance photographed in Colombia.
At least 16 people died and 20 were injured when a school bus plunged off a cliff in the Antioquia region of Colombia early on Sunday, Dec. 14, authorities said.
The bus was carrying students from Antioqueño High School and was returning from a trip when it left a rural road near El Chispero and fell into an abyss, Governor Andrés Julián of Antioquia said in a post on X. Emergency teams activated the regional hospital network to treat the victims.
Local outlets El Colombiano and the Daily Mail reported the crash occurred at about 5:40 a.m. The vehicle reportedly tumbled roughly 80 meters (about 262 feet) down the slope and was transporting about 37 passengers at the time, according to El Colombiano.
Officials have not confirmed a definitive cause for the collision. Authorities have suggested the driver may have experienced a so-called "microsleep," a brief lapse of consciousness roughly 30 seconds long, as defined by the Cleveland Clinic. Investigators continue to examine the scene and interview witnesses.
Daniel Garzon/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via GettyAn ambulance photographed in Bogota, Colombia.
The high school said the outing had been organized by 11th-grade students and was not an official school trip. In a social post the school expressed deep sorrow for the victims and offered support to students and families of the graduating class of 2025.
Colombia's Ministry of Health and Social Inclusion identified some of the injured in posts on X, noting the wounded included four adults and 12 minors. Mayor Edwin Castañeda of the nearby town of Segovia said injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Segovia and the San Vicente de Paúl Hospital in Remedios.
Among those killed was the driver, identified as Johnatan Taborda Cocacolo. The National Road Safety Agency issued a statement expressing regret over the accident on the Segovia–Antioquia highway and said competent authorities are investigating to determine the causes and confirm the full number of fatalities and injuries.
"The Ministry of Transportation and the National Road Safety Agency reiterate that the conscious and responsible behavior of all road users saves lives," the agency said, urging drivers to respect traffic laws and avoid risky behavior.
Authorities and community leaders continue to support rescue and recovery efforts. Officials have asked anyone with information or footage of the incident to come forward to assist the investigation.
