Curitiba, Brazil—Seven people died Saturday morning in a horrific head-on collision between a passenger van and a heavy grain lorry on a rain-slicked highway in the southern Brazilian state of Parana.
The accident occurred on a dangerous curve of the BR-277 highway when the driver of the van reportedly lost control on the wet asphalt while attempting an overtaking maneuver. The vehicle slid directly into the path of an oncoming fully loaded semi-truck.
The violent impact completely obliterated the passenger van, killing seven of its nine occupants instantly. Paramedics and fire rescue teams from the highway concessionaire rushed to the scene, where they pronounced the seven victims dead.
The driver of the lorry sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a nearby regional hospital for treatment. Continuous heavy rainfall across the region hampered rescue operations and contributed to hazardous driving conditions on the vital transport corridor.
Federal Highway Police temporarily closed the highway in both directions, resulting in massive traffic backups stretching for kilometers. Investigators are examining skid marks and interviewing surviving witnesses to officially determine liability for the deadly crash.
Crews worked for hours using heavy machinery to remove the wreckage of the van and the immobilized truck from the roadway. The tragedy highlights persistent safety concerns regarding single-lane highways and aggressive driving during adverse weather.
Local municipal authorities in the victims' hometown have declared an official period of mourning. The identification process for the deceased passengers remains ongoing at the local forensic institute.
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