Official statement from the Federal Highway Police or Brazilian news outlets

At Least 22 Dead in Bus and Truck Collision in Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais

Dec 21, 2024, 01:58 PM

At least 22 people were killed in a collision between a passenger bus, a truck, and a car on BR-116 in the Lajinha district of Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, Brazil, early Saturday. The bus, carrying approximately 45 passengers from São Paulo to Bahia, burst into flames after colliding with a truck carrying tiles. Thirteen survivors were rescued and transported to nearby hospitals. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, with initial reports suggesting that a tire burst may have caused the bus driver to lose control. The Federal Highway Police (PRF) is searching for the missing driver of the truck. The road remains closed as emergency services work at the scene. Governor Romeu Zema expressed his condolences and stated that the state government is mobilized to support the victims and their families.