On the evening of Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at approximately 9:30 PM, a severe head-on collision between a passenger van (minibus) and a heavy-haul truck (“carreta”) resulted in a major tragedy.
At kilometer 446 of BR-251, near the small rural community of Barrocão, in the municipality of Grão Mogol, located in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The impact was so intense that both vehicles were thrown off the roadway into a difficult-to-access area, complicating rescue operations and significantly increasing the severity of the event.
Travel Routes and Initial Findings
According to early information released by authorities, the heavy-haul truck was empty at the time of the crash
It was traveling from the Northeast region of Brazil toward Rio Grande do Sul, following a route through Bahia and passing toward the city of Montes Claros.
The van, on the other hand, was transporting workers who were returning to the state of Ceará after departing earlier from the Triângulo Mineiro region.
Investigators confirmed that this route is commonly used by long-distance transport vehicles, including heavy trucks and passenger vans.
Due to the truck being unloaded at the time, its braking and road behavior characteristics may have differed from a fully loaded vehicle.
However, experts have not yet issued a conclusive explanation for how the collision occurred or what the primary cause was.
Rapid Response From Emergency and Rescue Teams
Immediately after the incident was reported, multiple emergency units were dispatched to the site.
Responding agencies included the Corpo de Bombeiros Militar de Minas Gerais (CBMMG), the Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU), the Polícia Rodoviária Federal (PRF), and forensic teams from the Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais (PCMG).
Once crews arrived, they found a highly complex scenario:
the vehicles were extensively damaged, severely deformed, and located off the pavement in an area with limited access.
Many passengers were trapped inside the wreckage, requiring the use of specialized extrication techniques known as “desencarceramento.”
This process involved hydraulic tools, cutting equipment, and coordinated teamwork under challenging nighttime conditions.
Victims, Injuries, and Medical Response
There were 17 occupants inside the van at the time of the collision.
Unfortunately, nine people lost their lives on the scene, including eight adults and one child.
Their bodies were later transported to the Instituto Médico Legal (IML) in Montes Claros for proper identification and autopsy procedures.
At least eight other van passengers sustained injuries of varying severity. Among the injured were:
An 8-year-old child reported in stable condition.
A 27-year-old man in critical condition, requiring assisted ventilation.
A 36-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, both in stable condition.
Other victims were transported to hospitals in the nearby municipality of Francisco Sá, where they remained under observation.
As of the initial days following the incident, medical authorities had not released further updates regarding the long-term recovery of the injured.
Inside the heavy-haul truck, there were only two occupants — the driver and a passenger.
Both suffered minor injuries and were evaluated and released at the scene after receiving medical assistance.
Road Closure and Post-Accident Procedures
Because of the severity of the crash and the need for extrication, the PRF closed BR-251 in both directions.
The blockage lasted for approximately six hours, continuing until around 3:40 AM on Wednesday, May 14, when the vehicles were removed and the area was cleared for safe passage.
