El Marques, Mexico

A train struck a small passenger bus at a grade crossing in central Mexico early Wednesday. 7 people died and 17 were injured in this accident. The authorities informed me about this incident.

Alejandro Vazquez Melado, civil defence chief for El Marques township, said many of the 17 injured were in serious condition.

Guadalupe Munguia, the interior secretary of Queretaro state, later said the death toll had risen to seven.

The city is in the state of Querétaro, north of Mexico City.

Pictures from the spot showed the mangled wreckage of the bus lying on one side of the tracks. The vehicle was dragged for about 50 yards (metres) on the tracks.

In Mexico, accidents often occur at railroad crossings that lack signals or barriers.