A fatal collision between a University of Franca student bus and a truck late Thursday night left 12 dead and 21 injured on a highway near Nuporanga, São Paulo. Authorities confirmed the truck driver attempted to flee but was apprehended and charged with involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and evasion. Governor Tarcísio de Freitas declared three days of state mourning as families and universities grieve the abrupt loss of young lives.
Medical teams rushed survivors to regional hospitals, while officials identified all victims as students from the University of Franca.
Our students had their dreams cut short in this unthinkable tragedy,the institution stated. Local broadcasts revealed chilling footage of the wreckage, with the bus’s left side entirely crushed.
Brazil’s alarming traffic safety record compounds the disaster: over 10,000 road fatalities occurred in 2024 alone, per Transportation Ministry data. Recent tragedies include:
- December 2023: 38 dead in Minas Gerais bus-truck crash
- September 2023: Coritiba Crocodiles team bus accident claims 3 lives
Legal proceedings against the detained truck driver are underway, though emotional scars persist. The University of Franca plans memorials, while São Paulo’s government reviews highway safety protocols to prevent future catastrophes. This incident underscores Brazil’s urgent need for systemic transportation reforms.