Bus crash on Mexico 15 in Sonora kills driver and injures 39

A passenger bus operated by Norte de Sinaloa GTB collided with a tractor‑trailer on Federal Highway 15 near Las Guásimas, between Ciudad Obregón and Empalme in Sonora. The crash occurred around 22:30‑23:30 on a Monday night, when the bus, traveling from Mazatlán toward Tijuana, struck the refrigerated trailer of a stopped truck. The impact crushed the bus driver, identified as Cruz Antonio Castro Higuera, 48, of Los Mochis, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Thirty‑nine passengers were injured, including children, seniors, and a pregnant woman with a threatened miscarriage. Rescue operations involved Cruz Roja, municipal fire brigades, CAPUFE, the National Guard’s road division, and local protection‑civil teams, which triaged the victims and transported them to hospitals in Guaymas, Empalme and surrounding towns. Authorities opened a criminal investigation to determine responsibility, with early reports suggesting the tractor‑trailer was stationary due to a mechanical failure or driver fatigue. The incident prompted the temporary closure of the highway segment while investigators collected video evidence and performed vehicle extrication.