2015 Argentina road accident

2015 Argentina road accident
Details
Date	14 December 2015
Location	Rosario de la Frontera
Country	Argentina
Statistics
Deaths	43
Injured	8

On 14 December 2015, a bus carrying Argentinian gendarmes plunged off a bridge in Rosario de la Frontera in northern Argentina, killing 43 and injuring 8. ^{[1] [2] [3]} This accident became known as the gendarmes tragedy (Spanish: La tragedia de los gendarmes). ^{[4] [5]}

Events

On 13 December 2015, Patricia Bullrich ordered the dispatch of 150 gendarmes to Jujuy. On 14 December, a convoy of three buses parted from the Mobile Detachment 5 of Santiago del Estero. When they were passing through a bridge, 20km away from Rosario de la Frontera, one of the buses overturned. 43 of the gendarmes died in the accident. ^{[6] [7]}

Causes

The crash took place at the National Route 34, which has little maintenance and many potholes. Areas near bridges are more susceptible to collisions, as the frequent braking of heavy trucks before crossing them damages the roads even further. According to investigations, the tires of the bus blew out some yards before a bridge, which caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. ^[3]

Reactions

President Mauricio Macri, who had just took office, sent his condolences to the relatives of the victims. He said that "We have to improve the country roads, so that these things don’t keep happening". ^[3] The Plan Belgrano, announced a short time before, was aimed to improve the poorly maintained infrastructure at the Argentine northern provinces. ^[3] He also declared a national day of mourning. ^[2]

See also

• List of road accidents (2010–present)

References

1. Laje, Diego; Pearson, Michael (December 14, 2015). "Bus plunges from bridge in Argentina; 43 dead". CNN . Retrieved February 18, 2016.
2. Bronstein, Hugh; Bianchi, Walter (December 14, 2015). "Argentina bus crash leaves 43 border patrol officers dead". Reuters . Retrieved February 18, 2016.
3. Gilbert, Jonathan (December 14, 2015). "Bus Crash in Argentina Kills Over 40 Police Officers". The New York Times . Retrieved February 18, 2016.
4. Rodríguez, Leonel (19 December 2015). "La tragedia de los gendarmes: "El chofer estaba bajo tratamiento psicológico, no podía manejar", afirma la querella". La Nación (in Spanish).
5. "La tragedia de los gendarmes: gritos, insultos y empujones tras la absolución de los cinco comandantes acusados por el viaje que terminó con 43 muertes". Clarín (in Spanish). 7 June 2024.
6. Ferreyra, Claudia (10 May 2024). "Juicio por la muerte de 43 gendarmes, el fiscal responsabiliza a oficiales de la fuerza". Página 12 (in Spanish).
7. "El accidente que se llevó la vida de 43 gendarmes: a 8 años de la tragedia de Balboa". Qué Pasa Salta (in Spanish). 14 December 2023.