About 200 pilgrims travelling through the town of Mazapil in central Mexico witnessed something unexpected and tragic, as a heavy truck carrying building materials lost its brakes and crashed into a Catholic procession before plowing into cars and ultimately overturning, killing 23 people and injuring 50, according to The Daily Mail.

Among the victims of the tragic incident is a 4-year-old girl. Police and ambulance crews who were escorting the religious procession stated that the driver of the truck immediately fled the scene after the fatal crash.

Authorities are now on on the hunt to trace and apprehend the truck driver.

About 15 of the injured are reported to be in critical condition, but exact numbers have not been confirmed because many family members opted to take their injured relatives to local hospitals themselves rather than waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Religious processions are quite common in Mexico, a place where Catholism remains very prominent and devotees continue to patronize saints. A saint's day or a special religious occasion usually warrants a procession, with pilgrims walking on roadsides to local shrines, reports Fox News Latino.

The pilgrims caught in the accident were taking part in a pilgrimage to the San Gregorio Magno church in Mazapil since Sunday as part of the patron saint's celebration.