A devastating accident between a van and a truck turned Tuesday night (13) into a scene of tragedy on BR-251, in Grão Mogol, in the North of Minas Gerais. Nine people died and another 12 were injured in a head-on collision that shocked the country and mobilized rescue, forensic and investigation teams.
Now, authorities are trying to understand what caused the impact and whether it could have been avoided.
Truck invaded the wrong way, confirms expert opinion
The first analyses carried out by the Civil Police of Minas Gerais (PCMG) indicate that the truck involved in the accident invaded the opposite lane of the highway, causing a direct collision with the van that was transporting workers returning to Ceará.
“It was a determining factor,” said expert Hugo Leonardo. Tire marks, drag marks and grooves in the asphalt were fundamental to this finding, according to the experts.
The official conclusion will be presented in a technical report, expected to be completed within 30 days, which may hold those involved legally liable.
Road conditions may have contributed
At the time of the accident, it was raining moderately and the road was wet — conditions that may have contributed to the loss of control of the truck. Fog and possible speeding are also being investigated.
According to the Federal Highway Police (PRF), the stretch is known for its high accident rate, especially on rainy days.
The history of the highway and vehicle maintenance will also be considered in the investigation.
The impact of the accident was immediate and fatal. Of the 21 people involved:
The accident mobilized ambulances from SAMU, Fire Department, Civil Police and PRF, who worked throughout the night to rescue and remove the bodies.
The PCMG released preliminary data on fatal victims, without revealing names. The dead include men and women aged between 4 and 52, from different states in the Northeast:
Boy, 4 years old – Uberlândia (MG)
Man, 29 years old – Crato (CE)
Man, 33 years old – Trindade (PE)
An elderly man who has not yet been identified
The identification was made possible thanks to facial recognition and fingerprint collection. The unidentified victim had no documents and, according to forensic doctor Aline Brito, authorities are already cross-referencing information with civil identification databases.
Where did the passengers come from?
The van was carrying 19 seasonal workers who had embarked from cities on the borders of Goiás and Minas Gerais — such as Prata, Araguari and Catalão. They had finished a day of work harvesting fruits and vegetables and were heading towards Ceará, where they would spend some time with their families.
Van was irregular for interstate transport
The National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) confirmed that the vehicle did not have authorization for interstate passenger transport. The irregularity raises an alert about the conditions of clandestine transport, often used by rural workers due to the low cost.
ANTT reported that it is collaborating with the authorities and will provide all available data to assist in the investigation.
What does the truck company say?
The transport company OPR Logística, owner of the truck, lamented the tragedy in an official statement. The company, which has been operating for 28 years, stated that it is at the disposal of the authorities and reinforced that safety is a priority in its operations.
For now, no information has been released about the driver’s history or the mechanical conditions of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Investigation and next steps
The Grão Mogol Police Station has opened an investigation to determine the case. The expert report will be a key element in determining criminal and civil liability for the accident.
The police are working with the hypothesis that the truck driver was reckless, but other possibilities have not been ruled out.
The tragedy reignites the debate about the conditions of Brazilian roads, the use of illegal transport and the inspection of heavy vehicles on federal highways.
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Three sisters are found dead after visiting their father, details of the case are exposed
The barbaric crime shocked the local community and generated a wave of commotion.
A devastating crime shook the city of Washington, in the United States, with the tragic death of sisters Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker, aged 9, 8 and 5, respectively.
The girls were found dead last Monday (2), after a visit to their father, Travis Decker, 32, a former soldier who lived on the streets.
The episode caused national commotion and is being treated as a brutal case of triple homicide, with strong repercussions in discussions about child safety and the limits of shared custody.
According to official information, the girls were left in the care of their father for a visit previously agreed upon by the court with their mother, Whitney Decker, from whom Travis had been divorced since 2022.
The former soldier lived in a pickup truck parked in a makeshift camp about two hours from Seattle. The children disappeared after being searched by Travis on Friday (30).
When they were not returned on Saturday, as agreed, the mother tried to contact her ex-husband, but without success. The calls went straight to voicemail, which increased her concern.
In the absence of answers, the police were called and, on Sunday (1), an arrest warrant was issued for interference with custody. Hours later, the bodies of the three girls were found near Travis’ truck, abandoned near the camp.
The children had their wrists tied and plastic bags over their heads. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as asphyxiation. Travis fled the scene after the crime, and state and federal police are mobilizing to capture him. The charges against him have been upgraded to murder and kidnapping.
The case raises urgent questions about the psychological support of ex-combatants, the mechanisms of supervision in custody arrangements and the failures of protection that can allow apparently controlled situations to end in tragedy.
American society, still in shock, cries out for justice and answers in the face of violence that prematurely took three innocent lives. There is no information about the girls’ wake and burial.