At least 32 people were killed early Saturday in a tragic highway collision between a passenger bus and a truck near the town of Lajinha in Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais.
The state fire department, responding to the accident, reported that the bus was carrying 45 passengers and had departed from São Paulo. Authorities said the bus blew a tire, causing the driver to lose control and collide with the truck. A third vehicle, a car, was also involved in the crash, but all three of its passengers survived.
Thirteen injured individuals were rushed to hospitals near the city of Teófilo Otoni, while emergency teams have since removed all victims from the crash site. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Governor Romeu Zema expressed his condolences on social media, stating, “We are working to ensure the families of the victims receive support to face this tragedy, especially as it comes just before Christmas.” Zema also mobilized state resources to assist survivors and families.
Brazilian media outlet Globo reported that the truck driver fled the scene and is currently being sought by police. The Federal Highway Police identified the stretch of road as the deadliest highway in Brazil for 2023, with 559 deaths recorded.
This collision adds to the grim statistics of over 10,000 traffic-related fatalities reported in Brazil in 2024. In September, a separate bus accident involving the Coritiba Crocodiles football team killed three people.
Authorities continue to investigate this latest incident as the nation mourns another tragic loss of life on its roads.
