Birthday girl, 10, among 3 dead in Colombia monster truck crash

The truck at the exhibition in Popayan performed a wheelie before crashing into the barriers separating the public from the track

A Colombian girl celebrating her 10th birthday was among three people crushed to death at a monster truck display when a vehicle veered out of control and ploughed into spectators, authorities said on Monday.

Hellen Velarde was attending Sunday’s exhibition in the southwestern city of Popayan as a birthday gift when she was crushed by the truck in an incident that caused widespread anger.

A second girl and a young woman were also killed, local media reported.

Images circulating on social media showed the truck performing a wheelie before swerving off the track and crashing into the barriers separating the public from the track.

Chaos erupted as spectators attempted to get out of harm’s way.

More than 40 people were injured, some seriously, according to the local fire department.