The driver of the truck involved in an accident on the Régis Bittencourt Highway (BR-116), which left 39 people dead, was arrested this Thursday morning (21), in Espírito Santo. The information was released by the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Partido Novo), on social media.
Governor Zema stressed that the investigation showed that the driver was under the influence of illicit substances. The arrest of the suspect was carried out by the Civil Police of Minas Gerais, following a decree by judge Danilo de Mello Ferraz, from the 1st Criminal Court of the District of Teófilo Otoni.
According to the magistrate, some elements were discovered during the investigations:
- Absence of the driver at the scene of the accident;
- Overweight of the trailer load;
- Lack of verification of the cargo transportation conditions by the driver;
- Excessive vehicle speed;
- Exhausting travel journey;
- Lack of adequate rest;
- Use of narcotics;
- Excessive speed of the truck, which was traveling at 90 km/h – when the speed limit for the road was 80 km/h.
The analysis of the facts and the testimony of numerous witnesses led the judge to consider that the driver took several risks, characterizing the crime as possible intent.
Furthermore, the driver admitted that he was not in the habit of checking the lashing of the material he was carrying and the weight limits. In the judge’s assessment, this highlighted “absolute irresponsibility and inability to carry out his job”.
The judge also highlighted that it was “simple carelessness or failure to observe a duty of objective care, but in deliberate assumption of risk, especially when caused by the use of various drugs”. As a result, the arrest of the person being investigated was ordered.
THE CNN contacted the Civil Police to obtain more information about the driver’s arrest, but did not receive a response until the last update of this report.
The accident
The accident occurred near Teófilo Otoni, in Vale do Mucuri, in Minas Gerais, in the early hours of December 21, 2024.
The cause was a block of granite that came loose from the truck and hit a bus, which was traveling in the opposite direction. The bus, carrying 45 passengers, lost control and collided with the trailer.
A Fiat Argo that was behind the bus later collided with the truck. The passengers in the passenger vehicle were rescued alive.
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This content was originally published in MG: Driver of the truck involved in an accident that killed 39 people is arrested on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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