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.

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.