Eight people died and 45 were left injured in a horror bus incident on a highway near Sao Paulo in Brazil. According to intial reports, the bus was carrying rural workers on the Transbrasiliana Highway (BR-153) in the stretch between Ocauçu and Marília, in the early hours of Monday, February 16.
The information shared by the Federal Highway Police suggest that the vehicle overturned after one of its tyres blew out and the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. Some of the injured were taken to Santa Casa, Hospital das Clínicas, Unimar, Hospital Materno-Infantil, and Emergency Care Units (UPA) in Marília.
Brazilian outlet G1 reports that 26 casualties were treated by the ambulance services, 12 by local police officers, six by firefighters and one by a motorway operator’s ambulance.
The Marília Blood Centre has issued a call for blood donations to assist those injured in the crash.
A statement from the Public Security Secretariat (SSP) says the Civil Police are working to identify the victims and anyone else connected to the crash.
Investigators noted that the absence of a passenger list is making this process significantly more challenging.
Authorities also confirmed that the bus operator will come under formal scrutiny.
A forensic team has already been dispatched, and the case has been filed with the Marília Regional Police Station, where investigators will work to establish the circumstances that led to the accident.