Backhoe plunges onto cars, killing 2 outside Mexico City

MEXICO CITY – A heavy construction vehicle plunged onto a congested road outside the Mexican capital Wednesday, killing two people and injuring six more.

The Mexico State government said in a statement that the backhoe fell from a height of about 30 feet (10 metres) and struck five passing passenger cars.

Surveillance camera video obtained by the newspaper El Universal showed the bulk of the vehicle landing on a white-and-pink minivan in stop-and-go traffic, flattening it amid a cloud of dust.

The operator of the backhoe was one of the two killed. An 8-year-old girl was among the injured, who were taken to a hospital for treatment.

The state government said the vehicle was involved in construction of a two-lane automobile bridge at the site in the municipality of Huixquilucan, on Mexico City’s western outskirts.

An investigation was underway.