At least 23 people were killed and five others sustained injuries following a head-on collision between a minibus and a truck in the southern Brazilian state of Parana. The accident occurred early Wednesday morning on a highway situated near Ipiranga, a city with a population of 14,000 located approximately 560 kilometers south of Sao Paulo.
According to reports from Brazil’s traffic police, preliminary evidence indicates that the truck, which was not transporting any cargo, crossed into the path of oncoming traffic. The two vehicles, which were traveling in opposite directions, collided at approximately 3:30 a.m.
Authorities identified the passengers of the minibus as a group consisting of healthcare workers, patients, and several family members. Among the 23 fatalities were 21 adults and two children. Emergency response teams and local law enforcement remained on the scene for several hours following the incident to conduct operations.
Footage from TV Globo shows the truck parked on grass on the side of the road and the crushed minibus, with shattered glass and belongings of the passengers strewn on the ground.
