At least 16 dead as truck hits pilgrims in Mexico

A truck plowed into a crowd of pilgrims after apparently losing its brakes in north-central Mexico, killing at least 16 people and injuring 30 others, authorities said.

Some 200 people were taking part in a religious procession on the main street of the town of Mazapil in Zacatecas state when the truck ran into them in the late afternoon, officials said.

The dump truck "was apparently left without brakes and struck the crowd," which was heading to a Catholic church, an official in the state's civil protection agency told AFP.

In a statement, the state government's secretary general, Jaime Santoyo Castro, said 16 people died and 30 more were injured.

The truck driver fled the scene of the tragedy, according to the civil protection official.

Local media showed pictures of the dump truck turned on its side. A red pick-up truck is stopped in front of it.

A police car and an ambulance had escorted the pilgrims during the procession, according to press reports.

Catholics have been taking part in a pilgrimage to the San Gregorio Magno church in Mazapil since Sunday as part of a celebration for a patron saint.