Wave of New Year Road Crashes Across Brazil Leaves Multiple Dead, Triggers Criminal Inquiries

Overview

• In Mato Grosso, four members of one family died in a head-on on BR-070; a 12-year-old survivor is stable and the PRF says the car entered the opposite lane.
• In Mato Grosso do Sul, a bus driver was indicted for intentional-risk homicide and bodily injury after investigators concluded he invaded the oncoming lane on BR-262.
• São Paulo recorded several serious cases on Jan. 1: a rollover on SP-351 killed one and injured three, a head-on on SP-255 left one driver dead, and a crash on SP-055 sent six to hospital with one critical; one involved motorist lacked a license.
• Three youths died in a collision between a pickup and a car on GO-334 in Rubiataba, with Civil Police leading the investigation after forensic work at the scene.
• Other incidents under review include a fatal rollover on BR-364 in Acre, hit-and-run cases and illegal driving, with arrests such as a suspected drunk driver detained in Uruçuí (PI) after fleeing.