At least three people were killed and more than 38 others were injured during a monster truck show in the city of Popayán, southwestern Colombia, after one of the vehicles lost control and struck part of the audience, local authorities reported.
According to footage shared on social media and reports from Colombian outlets such as El Tiempo, the vehicle veered off the track following a maneuver, knocked down metal safety barriers and crashed into spectators.
#MNTV II ¡TRAGEDIA EN ESPECTÁCULO! Monster Truck deja 3 muertos y 37 heridos en Colombia
Uno de los vehículos perdió el control, salió de la pista y atravesó las barreras de seguridad, generando pánico entre los asistentes.
Autoridades investigan las causas de este… pic.twitter.com/1NYYE612vZ— Más Noticias Televisión HN (@masntvhn) May 4, 2026
Popayán Mayor Juan Carlos Muñoz confirmed the preliminary toll in a message posted on X.
“We deeply regret the accident …)which has, preliminarily, left more than 38 people injured and 3 dead,” he said.
Among those killed was reportedly a minor, according to local press reports. Several of the injured were also believed to be children.
Colonel Julián Castañeda, commander of the Popayán police, told El Tiempo that the crash was likely caused by a mechanical failure.
“It was a private event. There was a mechanical failure, it left the track. The vehicle accelerated, it could not be stopped,” he said. He added that the driver of the truck was injured but is in stable condition.
Local media identified the driver as Sonia Dilma Segura, who is reportedly the only woman in Latin America authorized to operate this type of vehicle.
Cauca Gov. Octavio Guzmán expressed condolences and said the injured were taken to public hospitals in the city. “We deeply regret the accident,” he said on X.
A local official cited by Colombian media said the event had the required permits, including liability insurance, and that the organizing company had experience in this type of show.
