Bus and Lorry Collision on Paraná Highway Claims 23 Lives

Sun Sep 06 2026 09:41:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A head‑on collision on Brazil’s BR‑373 kills 23 people, including two children, and exposes the country’s persistent road‑safety crisis.

An early‑morning head‑on crash on the BR‑373 highway in Paraná left at least 23 dead, including children, and five injured. The minibus—carrying patients from Imbituva—collided with a lorry at kilometer marker 209, causing widespread damage. Brazilian federal highway police are investigating, with forensic teams examining the wreck over a seven‑hour closure. The tragedy highlights Brazil’s ongoing traffic‑death problem, with over 34,000 fatalities in 2023 largely involving motorcyclists and heavy vehicles.

Head‑on collision on Paraná highway kills 23

By Vanessa Buschschlüter

An early‑morning bus‑lorry crash on the BR‑373 highway in southern Brazil has left more than two dozen people dead and several injured, officials said.

The minibus, operated by the health authorities of Imbituva, was transporting patients and their relatives to appointments in Ponta Grossa, roughly 60km from the accident site at kilometer marker 209.

At least 23 fatalities have been confirmed, including two children, and five people have been treated for injuries.

Brazil’s federal highway police are investigating the cause, with forensic teams examining the wreckage; the highway remained closed for nearly seven hours.

Road accidents continue to claim thousands of lives in Brazil each year. A World Bank report noted that more than 34,000 people died in traffic incidents in 2023, with motorcyclists making up the majority.

Common contributing factors include excess speed, alcohol impairment, and cellphone use while driving.

Related incidents include a February bus crash that killed 15 pilgrims in Ceará.