“They’re alive because of quick response,” said Dr. Luana Reis, head of emergency care at the Grão Mogol Regional Hospital. “But survival is just the first step — what comes next is long and painful: surgeries, rehabilitation, trauma.”
Families gathered outside hospital walls, clutching photographs and prayer cards, waiting for updates. Some had driven hundreds of kilometers through the night, desperate for news. “I just want to hold my brother again,” said one woman, her voice trembling. “He called me before the trip — he said he’d be home by morning.”
For many, that morning never came.
The Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collision, focusing on driver fatigue, maintenance issues, and potential violations of transport safety regulations. The truck’s tachograph — a device that records speed and driving hours — was recovered from the wreckage and is being analyzed by forensic technicians.
Early reports suggest the truck driver may have been behind the wheel for more than twelve consecutive hours before the crash, a clear violation of federal rest mandates for commercial transport operators.
