At least 32 dead as truck ploughs into crowd in Guatemala

A truck crashed into a crowd of people in western Guatemala on Wednesday evening, killing at least 32 people, authorities said.

The crowd had come out to investigate the aftermath of a fatal car crash when the truck collided with them.

Graphic footage shared on social media shows the aftermath of the collision, with bodies strewn across the road and pools of blood in the street.

Reports claimed there were women and children among the victims.

The crash killed at least 32 people, and nine people were admitted to hospitals in a critical condition, Public Health Minister Carlos Soto said on local radio.

Grieving friends and relatives gathered at the scene and could be heard crying and screaming.

It happened in the city of Nahuala in the Central American country of Guatemala.

The crash was on the notoriously dangerous Interamerican highway, at kilometre 159, Guatemalan media said.

Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying the route constantly suffers road traffic accidents.

At least 125 people have died in accidents on major roads in Guatemala this year alone.

Nahuala, in the Solola province, is less than 11 miles from the major city of Quetzaltenango.

Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales took to Twitter to express his sadness.

“At this time we are coordinating our response to bring full support to the relatives of the victims”. “My heartfelt condolences.”

He tweeted: "With much sadness, I regret the tragedy that occurred in the municipality of Nahuala, Solola, which has left more than 30 deaths due to a traffic accident.

"We are currently coordinating actions to provide all the support to the victims' families. My condolences."

The government of Guatemala has announced three days of national mourning for the victims.

The crash marked one of the country’s worst traffic accidents in recent years. In 2013, a bus plunged off a cliff in rural Guatemala, killing at least 43 people and injuring dozens.