On December 14, 2025, a devastating accident in northern Colombia's Antioquia department resulted in the deaths of 17 people and injuries to 20 others when a bus carrying high school students plunged off a cliff into a ravine. The victims were primarily recent graduates from the Liceo Antioqueño school in Bello, who were returning from a celebratory beach trip in the Caribbean towns of Tolú and Coveñas.
The bus, operated by the company Precoltur and driven by Johnatan Taborda Cocacolo (who was among the deceased), was traveling toward Medellín when it veered off the road around 5:40 a.m. in the rural El Chispero sector, on the highway connecting Remedios and Zaragoza. The vehicle reportedly fell approximately 40 to 80 meters (131 to 262 feet), depending on reports, into a steep abyss. Authorities confirmed the bus was carrying around 37 to 40 passengers, mostly students aged 16 to 18 from the class of 2025.
Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón broke the news on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as "very hard news for the entire community during the time of December." He later updated that a police helicopter transported the bodies of the 17 victims to the Medellín Legal Medicine Institute for identification and procedures. The school expressed profound grief, posting a memorial mosaic of the deceased students and changing its profile to a black ribbon in mourning.
Rescue operations were complicated by the rugged terrain and the presence of the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in the area, requiring special security precautions for firefighters and personnel. Coincidentally, the ELN had declared restrictions on civilian travel for 72 hours starting that day due to military exercises, though no direct link to the accident has been established.
Preliminary investigations by the National Road Safety Agency focus on determining the cause, with some local reports suggesting the driver may have experienced a "microsleep." The agency emphasized the need for responsible road behavior to prevent such tragedies, noting Colombia averages 22 traffic-related deaths per day in 2024-2025.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed sorrow on X, stating: “I don’t like it when young people die. Even less when they’re going to study or to relax happily.” His words highlighted the national impact of losing young lives during what should have been a joyful post-graduation excursion.
Survivors recounted harrowing moments; one told Governor Rendón, “I was asleep and all of a sudden I heard screams, and from that moment on I don’t remember anything.” Injured students were initially treated in local hospitals in Remedios and Segovia, with several critical cases transferred to higher-level facilities in Medellín.
The tragedy has sparked mourning across Bello and Antioquia, with vigils, flowers at the school gate, and community support for affected families. The Liceo Antioqueño and local authorities coordinated psychological aid and logistics for grieving relatives.
This incident underscores ongoing road safety challenges in Colombia's rural and mountainous regions, where poor infrastructure, fatigue, and environmental factors contribute to frequent accidents. As investigations continue, calls for improved vehicle inspections, driver regulations, and infrastructure investments have intensified.
