Girl, 8, is among at least 18 people killed in horrific hit-and-run in Guatemala after tractor trailer mows down bystanders gathered at scene of fatal crash just minutes earlier

  • WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT 
  • At least 18 people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed Wednesday night when a tractor trailer plowed into a group of pedestrians
  • The group was at the scene of another fatal crash just moments earlier
  • Bystanders gathered on the side of a road in Nahualá after community leader Juan Chávez was instantly killed in a hit-and-run incident 
  • Tractor trailer driver Pedro René Lorenzo López , who fled the scene in south-western Guatemala, was arrested by the Guatemalan National Civil Police 
  • President Jimmy Morales declared the Central American nation will be holding three days of mourning as of Thursday

By Adry Torres For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

At least 18 people - including an eight-year-old girl - have been killed and nine others injured in a horrific hit-and-run crash in Guatemala. 

The tragic incident took place late Wednesday night when the driver of a commercial tractor trailer slammed into a group of people that were gathering on the side of a highway in the indigenous town of Nahualá.

The residents had rushed to the scene of a previous hit-and-run accident which left beloved community leader Juan Chávez dead, shortly before 11pm local time.

According to witness, the driver's visibility could have been impaired by lack of lighting in the 18-kilometer stretch of the InterAmerican Highway.

WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT 

Guatemala's National Civil Police arrested Pedro René Lorenzo López, the suspected driver of a truck who ran over and killed 18 people on Wednesday night

Guatemala's National Civil Police arrested Pedro René Lorenzo López, the suspected driver of a truck who ran over and killed 18 people on Wednesday night

Investigators and residents huddle around the bodies of 18 people, including an eight-year-old girl, that were killed by a hit-and-run truck driven in the south-western Guatemalan indigenous town of Nahualá

Investigators and residents huddle around the bodies of 18 people, including an eight-year-old girl, that were killed by a hit-and-run truck driven in the south-western Guatemalan indigenous town of Nahualá

A person records the moment a truck runs over the lifeless body of Juan Chávez. Residents were trying to warn incoming traffic on a highway in Guatemala when the driver of a tractor trailer hit 27 people, leaving 18 dead

A person records the moment a truck runs over the lifeless body of Juan Chávez. Residents were trying to warn incoming traffic on a highway in Guatemala when the driver of a tractor trailer hit 27 people, leaving 18 dead

On Thursday, the National Civil Police announced the arrest of Pedro René Lorenzo López, 28.  

According to Guatemalan news station TN 23, Lorenzo López passed all of his field sobriety tests. No charges have been filed yet.

Authorities, however, gave no details on where the detained suspect would be transferred to amid fears of a revenge attack.

Pallbearers carry the coffin of one of the 18 people that died in a horrible roadside accident in Guatemala late Wednesday night. President Jimmy Morales declared the Central American nation will be holding three days of mourning as of Thursday

Pallbearers carry the coffin of one of the 18 people that died in a horrible roadside accident in Guatemala late Wednesday night. President Jimmy Morales declared the Central American nation will be holding three days of mourning as of Thursday

Before tragedy struck the unsuspecting bystanders in the town, with an estimated population of 65,000, a bystander recorded the alarming moment a cargo truck and a pickup truck rolled over Chávez's lifeless body.

Numerous people were spotted in the video trying to warn incoming traffic with the flash lights of their cell phones.

Antonio Tomás, who was injured, said it just took a matter of seconds before the previous traffic accident site became a chaotic scene.

The tractor trailer (pictured) that ran over 27 people in Guatemala had extensive damages to its front bumper

The tractor trailer (pictured) that ran over 27 people in Guatemala had extensive damages to its front bumper

Authorities gave no details where the detained suspect would be transferred to amid fears of a revenge attack

Authorities gave no details where the detained suspect would be transferred to amid fears of a revenge attack

Yellow police tape and a shoe lay on the ground in the place where an accident occurred

Yellow police tape and a shoe lay on the ground in the place where an accident occurred

"My cousin says he only heard screams, crying and how people were lying on the floor,' Tomás said according to Guatemalan newspaper Prensa Libre.

Among the victims that died were two minors, eight-year-old Cristina Katerin Perechu Cotil, and Cesar Miguel Ajqui Tepaz, 16.

The other victims were named as: Cristina Cojti Guarchaj, 40; Antonia Carac Ixtas, 45; Juana Juliana Lopez Castro, 19; Diego Geremias Balux, 26; Catarina Tay Guarchaj, 56; Salomon Sipac, 19; Maria Tzoc Tambris, 34; Diego Hernesto Ixmata Xocol, 22; Cristobal Tuhul Xocol, 60; Juan Chavez Ajqui, 57; Antonio Jamines Tahai, 64; Miguel Perechu Tambris, who was in his 40's; Micaela Lopez Sac, 58; Cristobal Tulul Xocol, 60; Jose Benito Tambris Perechu, 19; Manuel Flabiano Tzoc, who was in his late 40's.

President Jimmy Morales declared the Central American nation will be holding three days of mourning as of Thursday. 

As of 5am local time Thursday, the bodies of most of the victims were returned to their respective families for burial services.

 

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