Overturning on the Bucaramanga–Rionegro highway closes the route toward the Atlantic coast; serious accidents in Norte de Santander and Huila leave seven dead

NewsAccident on the Bucaramanga - Rionegro road. Photo: Private archive, social mediaJOURNALIST15.11.2026 16:52 Updated: 15.11.2026 16:57 The overturning of a cargo vehicle caused the total closure of the highway connecting Bucaramanga with Rionegro, specifically in the sector known as the El Cero curve, this November 15. Because the vehicle ended up crosswise occupying both lanes, mobility is completely restricted in both directions. This blockage interrupts traffic on a key artery for the connection between Bucaramanga and the Atlantic coast, affecting the movement of those traveling through the area. According to preliminary information provided by traffic authorities, the incident would have originated from a mechanical failure in the truck's transmission, a situation that caused the vehicle to lose control and end up overturned on the roadway. There were two occupants in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The driver was not injured, while his companion, a woman, had to be taken to the Rionegro hospital to be evaluated by medical personnel. Authorities continue to respond to this emergency while more details about what happened emerge and maneuvers to remove the truck and restore traffic progress. Meanwhile, travelers are advised to drive with caution and to avoid taking this road corridor until it is reopened. School outing ended in an abyss in Norte de Santander Photo:The school outing that ended in an abyssOn the other hand, in Norte de Santander a traffic accident occurred on November 14 involving a school bus in which more than 20 people were traveling, including students from the Cayetano Franco Pinzón school and several guardians. The accident left a total of 17 people injured. During the emergency response, community members actively participated in rescue efforts, forming human chains to assist the occupants. Subsequently, the patients in the most critical condition were transferred to healthcare centers in Ocaña and Teorama to receive hospital care. Tragic accident in Huila. Photo:Centronoticias HuilaOverturning of an intermunicipal bus leaves fatalities in HuilaAdded to this picture is a serious accident recorded in the early hours of that same Saturday, November 14, in the department of Huila. An intermunicipal transport bus affiliated with the company Cootranscaquetá, which was covering the route between Florencia and Bogotá with 37 passengers on board, suffered a lateral overturning on Route 45, on the road section connecting the municipalities of Rivera and Neiva. Tragic accident in Huila. Photo:Centronoticias HuilaAccording to reports provided by authorities and rescue organizations, the accident left a preliminary toll of between seven and eight people dead, including minors, as well as between 15 and 20 occupants injured with fractures and polytrauma. Tragic accident in Huila. Photo:Private archiveThe injured were transported by ambulances to healthcare centers in Neiva and Garzón, while the fatalities were taken to Legal Medicine in Neiva for identification. According to Traffic and Transportation Police, the main hypothesis about the causes of the accident near the Los Cauchos toll booth points to a possible microsleep by the driver. CAROLINA BOHÓRQUEZEL TIEMPO correspondentRead more newsSchool outing ended in an abyss in Norte de Santander Photo: Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERSSign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWSFollow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Always stay up to date with the latest news, coverage, stories and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPPJoin El Tiempo's channel on WhatsApp to stay up to date with the most relevant news as it happens. EL TIEMPO APPStay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITALReliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.