Alexandra Ulmer, CNN • Updated 5th November 2018
( CNN ) — At least 19 people have been killed in the central Mexican state of Puebla after a school bus overturned, according to local officials.
The 18-seat, white bus was traveling north of the capital in the Tuxpan region and carrying high school students, according to the state prosecutors’ office.
Authorities say at least 29 people were injured and have since been transported to local hospitals.
The school that the bus was transporting is part of the state’s Education Department.
A car full of passengers stopped to help the bus occupants after the accident.
But at the wheel of the car was a 17-year-old student who was traveling to work as a rodeo clown. It was not immediately clear what happened to him.
Several people reportedly saved the lives of the students by removing the seats from the bus to free victims.
Puebla Gov. Eugenio Vazquez Rodriguez said authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.
“The cause of the accident is under investigation and we are in contact with all the pertinent authorities,” he said in a tweet.
Authorities said at least 20 ambulances and at least six helicopters were on the scene, as well as 15 helicopters.
Puebla authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.