Police confirm 13 deaths in BR-110 accident.

The accident involving a tractor and a bus from the Gontijo company, on BR 110, near the municipality of Alagoinhas, caused 13 deaths, according to the Civil Police; the bulldozer was being transported on a truck when it detached and fell onto the road, colliding head-on with the bus, which was carrying 30 passengers from São Paulo to the city of Paulo Afonso in Bahia; the truck driver stated in his testimony to the police that it was not his responsibility to verify whether the 35-ton machine was properly secured to the truck; according to the driver, the responsibility lies with a company that allegedly performed the procedure on top of the truck.

January 27, 2014, 22:35 AMUpdated May 27, 2019, 09:50 AM

The accident involving a tractor and a bus from the Gontijo company, on BR 110, near the municipality of Alagoinhas, caused 13 deaths, according to the Civil Police; the bulldozer was being transported on a truck when it came loose and fell onto the road, colliding head-on with the bus, which was carrying 30 passengers from São Paulo to the city of Paulo Afonso in Bahia; the truck driver stated in his testimony to the police that it was not his responsibility to verify whether the 35-ton machine was properly secured on the truck; according to the driver, the responsibility lies with a company that allegedly performed the procedure on top of the truck (Photo: Romulo Faro).

Bahia 247 with Agência Brasil - The accident involving a tractor and a bus from the Gontijo company, on BR 110, near the municipality of Alagoinhas, in Bahia, caused 13 deaths, according to the Civil Police. The bulldozer was being transported on a trailer when it came loose and fell onto the road, colliding head-on with the bus, which was carrying 30 passengers from São Paulo to the Bahian city of Paulo Afonso.

The truck driver fled the scene but was located and gave a statement. He told police that it was not his responsibility to check if the 35-ton machine was properly secured to the truck. According to the driver, the responsibility lies with a company (not yet identified) that allegedly performed the procedure on the truck.

Earlier, the Federal Highway Police (PRF) had reported that the death toll was 14. Among the dead is the bus driver. According to the PRF, 13 injured people were taken to the Dantas Bião Regional Hospital in Alagoinhas, and four more who are in serious condition were transferred to the Hospital das Clínicas.

According to Empresa Gontijo, teams are on site to assist passengers and relatives. The company has provided free transportation to the city so that families can accompany their hospitalized relatives or identify the bodies. For information on the passengers' situation, the contact number is (11) 3032 1619.