A devastating accident between a van and a truck turned Tuesday night (13) into a scene of tragedy on BR-251, in Grão Mogol, in the North of Minas Gerais. Nine people died and another 12 were injured in a head-on collision that shocked the country and mobilized rescue, forensic and investigation teams.

Now, authorities are trying to understand what caused the impact and whether it could have been avoided.

Truck invaded the wrong way, confirms expert opinion

The first analyses carried out by the Civil Police of Minas Gerais (PCMG) indicate that the truck involved in the accident invaded the opposite lane of the highway, causing a direct collision with the van that was transporting workers returning to Ceará.

“It was a determining factor,” said expert Hugo Leonardo. Tire marks, drag marks and grooves in the asphalt were fundamental to this finding, according to the experts.

The official conclusion will be presented in a technical report, expected to be completed within 30 days, which may hold those involved legally liable.

Road conditions may have contributed

At the time of the accident, it was raining moderately and the road was wet — conditions that may have contributed to the loss of control of the truck. Fog and possible speeding are also being investigated.

According to the Federal Highway Police (PRF), the stretch is known for its high accident rate, especially on rainy days.

The history of the highway and vehicle maintenance will also be considered in the investigation.

The impact of the accident was immediate and fatal. Of the 21 people involved:

The accident mobilized ambulances from SAMU, Fire Department, Civil Police and PRF, who worked throughout the night to rescue and remove the bodies.

The PCMG released preliminary data on fatal victims, without revealing names. The dead include men and women aged between 4 and 52, from different states in the Northeast:

Boy, 4 years old – Uberlândia (MG)

Man, 29 years old – Crato (CE)

Man, 33 years old – Trindade (PE)

An elderly man who has not yet been identified

The identification was made possible thanks to facial recognition and fingerprint collection. The unidentified victim had no documents and, according to forensic doctor Aline Brito, authorities are already cross-referencing information with civil identification databases.

Where did the passengers come from?

The van was carrying 19 seasonal workers who had embarked from cities on the borders of Goiás and Minas Gerais — such as Prata, Araguari and Catalão. They had finished a day of work harvesting fruits and vegetables and were heading towards Ceará, where they would spend some time with their families.

Van was irregular for interstate transport

The National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) confirmed that the vehicle did not have authorization for interstate passenger transport. The irregularity raises an alert about the conditions of clandestine transport, often used by rural workers due to the low cost.

ANTT reported that it is collaborating with the authorities and will provide all available data to assist in the investigation.

What does the truck company say?

The transport company OPR Logística, owner of the  truck, lamented the tragedy in an official statement. The company, which has been operating for 28 years, stated that it is at the disposal of the authorities and reinforced that safety is a priority in its operations.

For now, no information has been released about the driver’s history or the mechanical conditions of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Investigation and next steps

The Grão Mogol Police Station has opened an investigation to determine the case. The expert report will be a key element in determining criminal and civil liability for the accident.

The police are working with the hypothesis that the truck driver was reckless, but other possibilities have not been ruled out.

The tragedy reignites the debate about the conditions of Brazilian roads, the use of illegal transport and the inspection of heavy  vehicles on federal highways.