12 Killed in Crash on the Santa Elena-Guayaquil Highway

A frontal crash on the Guayaquil-Santa Elena highway left 12 people dead early Sunday, June 14, 2026.

The crash happened near the Zapotal bridge at about 04:14, according to ECU 911.

What Happened

A pickup truck and a cargo truck collided head-on, and both vehicles later burned.

Initial emergency information before 08:00 listed 10 people dead and one injured. Later, Colonel Ridher Acuna confirmed 12 deaths.

Acuña said two bodies were found outside the vehicle and the other 10 were burned inside it.

Emergency Response

The response included the Comision de Transito del Ecuador, Santa Elena firefighters and an ambulance from the nearby toll point.

By 07:50, the road was partially reopened. The bodies were transferred to the Santa Elena morgue.

The injured truck driver was taken to a health center in Ancon and was placed under police custody.

What This Means for Expats

For expats driving between Guayaquil, Santa Elena, Salinas or nearby coastal towns, this is a serious reminder that early-morning highway travel carries real risk.

If you need to make the trip, avoid rushing, leave more space than you think you need, and be especially cautious around trucks and pickups before dawn.

The key practical point is timing. A highway that feels routine during daylight can become much more dangerous when visibility, speed and fatigue stack up at the same time.