22 die in horrific bus and truck crash in Brazil

A tragic incident occurred in Brazil on the early morning of December 21, 2024, when a passenger bus collided with a truck on a highway in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The bus, which had departed from Sao Paulo and was carrying 45 passengers, crashed around 3:30 AM near the town of Teofilo Otoni. Witnesses reported that the bus blew a tire, causing the driver to lose control. Subsequently, the bus struck the truck and veered off the road, resulting in a devastating fire that engulfed the vehicle after the impact. The collision led to the deaths of at least 38 individuals, including the bus driver, while 13 others were injured and taken to local hospitals. This incident is noted as the worst traffic disaster on Brazil's federal highways since 2007, highlighting serious concerns regarding road safety in the country. Governor Romeu Zema and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva both expressed their condolences to the families of the victims, emphasizing the need for an investigation into the causes surrounding this horrific accident. The Federal Highway Police have confirmed that the truck driver fled the scene of the crash, and searches are underway to locate him for questioning. Furthermore, officials noted that a car carrying three occupants collided with the bus during the incident, but those individuals survived. In a broader context, Brazil has faced a troubling trend in traffic accidents, with over 10,000 fatalities reported in the past year alone, according to the Ministry of Transportation. The collision has reignited discussions about road safety measures and regulations to prevent such heart-wrenching events in the future.