A 10-year-old girl celebrating her birthday is among three people killed after a monster truck veers out of control and crashes into spectators at an exhibition in Popayán, southwestern Colombia, authorities say. The girl, Hellen Velarde, was attending the event on Sunday as a birthday gift when she was crushed by the truck. Local reports say a second girl and a young woman also die.
Video and photos shared on social media show the truck performing a wheelie before swerving off the track and crashing into barriers meant to separate the public from the performance area. Witness accounts described chaos as spectators try to move away from the danger.
The local fire department reports more than 40 people are injured, some seriously, and local media says several children are among those hurt. Popayán Mayor Juan Carlos Muñoz orders an investigation into the incident, saying it should not have happened. Family members and local commentators also raise concerns about safety measures at the event. One relative says another grandchild is in intensive care following surgery for a head injury.
