Authorities Identify Six Victims Of Tragic Bus Crash In Petropolis
Civil Police in Rio de Janeiro officially identified six of the ten individuals who tragically lost their lives when a tourist bus traveling from Belo Horizonte overturned on the BR-040 highway in Petropolis early Sunday morning.
According to reports from local authorities, the identified victims include 33-year-old Jhennifer Ferreira Carvalho, 7-year-old Lavinia Eduarda Souza Dias, 53-year-old Luciana Ferreira Carvalho, 19-year-old Ketelyn Polyane Alves de Oliveira, 35-year-old Keyla Perucci da Silva, and 33-year-old Priscilla de Souza Braz.
The Regional Post of Forensic Technical Police in Petropolis received nine of the deceased victims following the disaster. A tenth victim was initially rescued alive but succumbed to injuries later, with that body transferred to the forensic post in Nova Iguacu.
Based on reports from the Federal Highway Police, the vehicle was carrying 47 passengers alongside two drivers when the tragic incident occurred around 4:40 a.m. near the Cascatinha region of Petropolis.
Investigation Centers On Clandestine Transport And Vehicle Licensing
The 105th Police Station in Petropolis launched an active investigation to determine the exact circumstances that caused the bus to veer off the road and roll over. Forensic teams are currently examining the highway site to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the disaster.
Citing reports from the National Land Transport Agency, investigators discovered that the bus, bearing license plate AKY-3454, lacked proper authorization to conduct interstate passenger transport. The vehicle is registered under Dinna Ellles Turismo with a sales notice filed to PIT Tur Transportes Ltda, neither of which holds operational licenses.
The regulatory agency also found no authorized entity operating under the name Estrela Guia Turismo, which was publicly pointed out as responsible for organizing the trip. Furthermore, the bus displayed a sticker from the Samara agency, a company that is similarly inactive and uncertified.
Given these findings, the regulatory body formally classified the commercial trip as clandestine passenger transport. Officials continue to examine compliance records as part of the broader legal inquiry into the fatal crash.
Travel Agency Responds As Families Seek Information And Support
Following the devastating highway rollover, the Estrela Guia Tur agency utilized social media to acknowledge the accident and express condolences. The organization stated that it was closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with local authorities and area hospitals.
Representatives for the travel agency also established a dedicated contact line to assist families seeking information regarding relatives aboard the vehicle. News outlets have reached out to the company for further official commentary on the licensing and operational status.
Local emergency responders and municipal officials remain mobilized to provide ongoing support and medical assistance to surviving passengers and affected families. Investigators emphasize that reviewing transit permits and operator accountability remains a primary focus of the active police case.
Further updates from the 105th Police Station are expected as forensic examinations conclude and formal testimonies from surviving witnesses are processed in the coming days.
