BRASILIA, Dec 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A tourist bus leaving the Sao Paulo State for Brasilia crashed early Friday, killing five and injuring 50, according to the fire department of the Goias State in east-central Brazil.
The accident occurred in Aparecida de Goiania, about 220 km southwest of Brasilia, at about 2:18 a.m. local time.
The tour bus crashed in a ravine after colliding with an inspection vehicle and a truck traveling in the opposite direction. Most passengers suffered minor injuries, and 15 people were taken to the hospital for treatment.
It was reported that a road near the incident site was under repair and vehicles needed to detour.
According to the Fire Department of the state of Goiás, the collision happened around 2:18 am in the morning and, due to the seriousness of the occurrence, it was necessary to install a victim screening system for faster and more efficient care. As soon as they arrived at the scene, the rescue team already reported the death of five passengers. The truck driver was also injured and taken to the hospital.
Of the 50 people who were injured, 15 were referred to hospitals for prompt care. The health institutions that received the wounded were the Emergency Care Units (UPAs) of Goiânia and Aparecida de Goiânia and the Emergency Hospitals of the two municipalities.
According to firefighters, most victims were slightly injured and those who were not injured were placed on another bus.
Around 51 military firefighters, SAMU agents, Triunfo Concebra, Federal Highway Police (PRF) and Military Police acted to rescue the victims.
The PRF was at the site to assess, together with the Fire Department and the Concessionaire, the conditions to release traffic on the highway. The bus will only be picked up at dawn on Saturday (25/12), a time of less intense traffic.
“Even if the highway is released, traffic in the area will continue to be intense and slow. Therefore, the PRF reinforces the orientation so that drivers avoid going through this stretch of the BR, use other routes or even opt for times of less intense road flow”, says a note from the corporation.
At dawn on Thursday (12/23), an accident, also involving a bus, happened on the DF-130, in the Café Sem Troco region, near São Sebastião. With the collision, at least 25 people were injured and one baby is in serious condition.
The bus, without company logo, traveled from Santa Catarina to Maranhão, with 51 passengers, according to information from the Fire Department. The driver, who was not found at the scene of the accident, lost his direction and fell over the curve in the highway.
The Federal District Military Fire Department (CBMDF) was called at 3:55 am to respond to the incident and moved eight vehicles with 29 rescuers to the scene. — NNN-AGENCIES
