Florianopolis, Brazil— A cargo truck broke through the side barrier and dropped off a bridge in Santa Catarina early Saturday, killing the driver on impact and shutting down a key highway corridor for most of the morning.
State highway patrol arrived to find the cab crushed under the span. The truck had been traveling northbound when it veered, clipped the guardrail, and went over. No other vehicles were involved.
Firefighters needed heavy equipment to reach the wreckage. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released pending family notification.
The bridge is part of a heavily used freight route linking port terminals to inland industrial zones. Traffic backed up for more than six kilometers in both directions.
“It was a loud hit, then nothing,” said a motorist who was three cars behind. “When we got out, we could see the truck down below. Dust everywhere.”
Investigators from the Polícia Rodoviária Federal closed two lanes to document tire marks and damage to the concrete barrier. Photos show a long scrape along the guardrail before the breach point.
Officials said initial checks point to possible brake failure or driver fatigue, but they have not ruled out road conditions. Rain had fallen overnight in parts of the region.
A tow crew finally lifted the wreckage around 11:30 a.m. The state infrastructure department said engineers will inspect the bridge structure before fully reopening heavy-load traffic.
The victim’s body was taken to the Instituto Médico Legal. The highway is now partially open while the inquiry continues.
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