Official statements from Brazilian law enforcement agencies or news reports confirming the arrest

Brazil's Deadliest Crash Since 2007: Bus and Truck Collision on BR-116 Kills 39 Near Teófilo Otoni

Dec 21, 2024, 09:15 PM

A collision involving a bus operated by Emtram, a truck carrying granite, and a car on the BR-116 highway near Teófilo Otoni in Minas Gerais, Brazil, has left at least 39 people dead. The accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when the bus, carrying 45 passengers from São Paulo to Bahia, collided with the truck and the car. Witnesses reported that the bus lost control after a tire blew out, while other accounts suggest that a block of granite fell from the truck onto the bus. The bus burst into flames following the collision. Nine survivors were rescued from the wreckage. Authorities are seeking the truck driver, who was not found at the scene and reportedly had a suspended driver's license. Investigations have revealed that a radar limiting speed in the area had been removed prior to the accident. The Brazilian government has mobilized emergency services, and the governors of Minas Gerais and São Paulo have offered assistance. The accident is considered the deadliest on Brazilian federal highways since records began in 2007.