A tragic bus collision in the Potosi region of western Bolivia claimed the lives of at least 37 people and left 39 others injured on Saturday morning, March 1, 2025. The collision occurred on the route between the cities of Uyuni and Colchani.
The accident took place around 7:00 a.m. local time when one of the buses veered into the oncoming lane, only a few miles from Uyuni. The city is known as the entry point to the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, spanning over 3,900 square miles and a major draw for tourists.
The Departmental Police Command of Potosi confirmed the number of fatalities from this catastrophic accident.
One of the buses involved in the crash was en route to Oruro, a city known for hosting one of Latin America’s most notable carnival celebrations. The festive destination is now associated with one of Bolivia’s most disastrous transportation incidents this year.
Images provided by Radio Uyuni showed police officers working to extricate survivors from the twisted metal wreckage. The footage also revealed the grim scene of bodies covered in blankets scattered across the vast Andean plain as emergency personnel attended to the incident.
Initial investigations into the cause of the accident suggest driver impairment may be a factor. One of the drivers, both of whom survived the crash, was reported by passengers to have been drinking alcohol prior to the collision.
The two drivers were in different states of health, with one in intensive care and the other stable. Police were still working to identify the deceased and injured who have been hospitalized.
Diverse reports suggest children were among the victims, though the exact count varies. One account mentioned eight minors among the deceased, while another stated, “at least 37 people dead, including two children” were killed in the collision.
The injured have been split across four hospitals in Uyuni, as confirmed by the Potosi Departmental Police Command spokesperson. Those with more serious injuries have been moved to larger medical facilities in Oruro and Potosí for specialized care, though the precise distribution and condition of patients is not yet known.
This horrific accident underscores the ongoing road safety challenges in Bolivia, notorious for having some of the world’s deadliest roads. The country’s mountainous landscape, coupled with poorly kept roads and minimal supervision, poses a grave risk to travelers. Government data shows that these hazardous conditions result in approximately 1,400 deaths annually in Bolivia, a nation of roughly 12 million people.
This recent accident is not an isolated incident. Just last month, 31 people perished when a bus fell about 2,600 feet off a mountain road. In January, another bus accident near Potosí resulted in 19 deaths when the vehicle left the roadway.
Most intercity travel in Bolivia is by bus, with safety standards varying widely. Major accidents have been linked to factors such as drunk driving, mechanical failures, and challenging road conditions, particularly during the rainy season.
A majority of Bolivia’s roads are unpaved and lack adequate safety features like shoulders, fences, or barriers. Road markings are scarce, increasing the risk, especially in mountainous areas where four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended.
The Potosi region alone accounts for a substantial portion of Bolivia’s road accident fatalities, representing 10.6% of the country’s total traffic-related deaths. Bolivia’s road accident death rate is among the highest in Latin America.
Local laws mandate drivers involved in traffic accidents to remain at the scene until police arrive. The attempt to flee is deemed a violation of local rules.
In a related development, another fatal bus accident occurred on March 3, 2025, in the same region. A bus collided with a pickup truck and subsequently plunged into a ravine, resulting in at least 31 deaths and 22 injuries. Preliminary reports indicate that the pickup truck may have crossed into the oncoming lane, causing the collision.
