41 Dead in BR-116 Bus Crash; Truck Driver with Suspended License Sought

Dec 21, 2024, 10:31 PM

A collision between a passenger bus, a truck, and a car early Saturday on December 21, 2024, near Laranjinha on the BR-116 highway in Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, has left at least 41 people dead, according to local authorities. The bus driver was among the fatalities. The bus, carrying 45 passengers from São Paulo, collided with the vehicles, resulting in a fiery crash. The driver of the truck, who had his driver's license suspended since 2022, was reportedly driving erratically, weaving in a zigzag pattern and entering the wrong lane. He is currently at large and being sought by police. The accident is considered the deadliest in the region in recent years. The bodies of the victims are being transported to the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML) in Belo Horizonte for identification.