Medellín, January 19, 2026
Deadly Start to the year: 14 Road Deaths in Medellín in Just 17 Days
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A surge in traffic fatalities, including the deaths of two elderly pedestrians, is raising serious concerns about road safety in medellín.
- So far this year, 14 people have died in traffic accidents in Medellín, with motorcyclists and pedestrians particularly vulnerable.
- Recent incidents include a crash on the Medellín-Bogotá highway that killed two elderly people and a collision involving a motorcycle and a truck removing Christmas lights.
- Authorities report a 30% increase in accidents with injuries in 2025, despite an overall decrease in road deaths.
medellín is grappling with a troubling rise in road accidents, with 14 lives lost in just the frist 17 days of 2026. This grim statistic underscores the urgent need for improved road safety measures, particularly for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s authorities are scrambling to address the issue, but the numbers paint a stark picture of danger on Medellín’s streets.
Elderly Couple Killed While Waiting for Transit
The most recent tragedy occurred in Marinilla, in the Oriente Antioquia region, on the Medellín-Bogotá highway. Two elderly adults, identified as Dolly Tamayo and her husband Rodrigo Giraldo, were struck and killed by a private vehicle while waiting for public transportation. According to reports from the local Fire Department and authorities,the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol,registering a grade three on a breathalyzer test.
“With deep pain I inform Marinilla about the road accident that occurred on the Medellín-Bogotá highway, where two elderly adults lost their lives while waiting for public transportation,” said Marinilla Mayor Julio César Serna. “All my solidarity and support to their families in this challenging moment. We categorically reject any irresponsibility behind the wheel.”
Motorcyclist Dies in Collision with Lighting Truck
Simultaneously, in the north of the Aburrá Valley, a 31-year-old man died in Bello after his motorcycle collided with a truck. The truck was reportedly parked while crews were dismantling Christmas lighting. Emergency responders arrived to find the motorcyclist had already succumbed to his injuries. Initially, responders believed two people were affected, but it was later confirmed the driver was the sole victim.
Traffic flow was disrupted as Judicial Police and the Mobility Secretariat worked to clear the scene and investigate the incident.
Further complicating matters, a separate collision on Sunday in Rionegro, on the Las Palmas variant near the Jardín del Alto nursery, resulted in the death of one motorcyclist after a head-on crash with another rider, leading to a temporary road closure.
A Concerning Trend: 2025 Road Safety Report
These incidents contribute to a broader road safety challenge. While Medellín saw a slight improvement in overall road mortality in 2025-a decrease of 11.8% compared to 2024-the capital of Antioquia still recorded 276 deaths on its roads. Motorcyclists and pedestrians remain disproportionately at risk,accounting for 162 and 100 fatalities respectively.
Authorities have identified key contributing factors to these accidents, including speeding, inexperience, and pedestrians crossing roads without due caution. Despite the reduction in deaths, the number of accidents with injuries surged by 30% in 2025, reaching 29,842 incidents managed by the Traffic Control Center. The areas with the highest mortality rates were the La Candelaria, Castilla, and Laureles-Estadio communes.
