A serious accident that occurred on Monday morning left 21 people dead and injured on BR-230, near the city of Soledade, in the Agreste region of Paraíba. According to information from the Fire Department and the Federal Highway Police (PRF), the accident involved several vehicles and caused five immediate deaths. Another 15 victims were injured, including a child. The impact was so violent that rescue teams worked for hours to remove the victims and clear the flow of traffic on the highway.
According to initial reports, a pickup truck collided head-on with a semi-trailer truck carrying containers of food and kitchen items. The force of the impact caused the semi-trailer truck to overturn, and other vehicles behind it also became involved in the accident. As a result, the cargo spilled onto the road, further hindering rescue efforts and causing traffic delays and a complete blockage of the highway for much of the morning.
Teams from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU), firefighters, and the Federal Highway Police (PRF) were called to the scene and, upon arrival, found victims trapped in the wreckage and vehicles completely destroyed. The rescue required the use of special tools for extrication, as well as support from ambulances from the cities of Campina Grande and Patos.
The Emergency and Trauma Hospital of Campina Grande confirmed that it received eight victims in serious condition, while others were transferred to health units in Soledade and Juazeirinho. Among the injured, there are reports of multiple traumas, open fractures, and internal injuries.
Delegate Thales Truta, who oversaw the initial procedures at the scene, reported that the initial collision between the pickup truck and the semi-trailer truck may have been caused by a possible lane invasion. However, he emphasized that the severity of the accident was also aggravated by the speed and heavy traffic in that section of the road.
The forensic team has been called in and is expected to produce an official report on the causes of the accident in the coming days. Detective Lucas dos Santos, from the Soledade Police Station, emphasized that hypotheses such as speeding, driver fatigue, or mechanical failure have not been ruled out.
Throughout the morning, traffic on BR-230 was completely blocked for vehicle removal and road cleanup. The road was gradually reopened after the cargo scattered at the site was cleared.
The tragedy reignites the warning about the need for greater caution on Brazilian highways, especially on stretches with heavy truck and cargo vehicle traffic. Experts emphasize that proper vehicle maintenance, respecting speed limits, and taking precautions against driver fatigue are fundamental to preventing new incidents like this.
The investigations are ongoing.