On the night of May 13, 2025, a devastating head-on collision between a passenger van and a heavy-haul truck caused a major tragedy along BR-251 in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The crash occurred around 9:30 PM at kilometer 446, near the rural community of Barrocão in Grão Mogol. The impact was so violent that both vehicles were thrown off the roadway into a hard-to-reach area, complicating rescue efforts and increasing the severity of the situation.
Early reports indicated that the truck, which was traveling empty from Brazil’s Northeast toward Rio Grande do Sul, may have handled differently because it carried no load. The van was transporting workers returning to Ceará after leaving the Triângulo Mineiro region. Investigators noted that this stretch of highway is commonly used by long-distance vans and heavy trucks, though the exact cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Emergency teams from CBMMG, SAMU, PRF, and PCMG responded quickly and found several passengers trapped inside the wreckage. Of the 17 people in the van, nine died at the scene, including a child. Eight others were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. The truck’s two occupants suffered only minor injuries. BR-251 was closed in both directions during rescue operations.
