Bus and truck collided in Paraná — at least 23 dead
A highway collision in the state of Paraná early this morning claimed at least 23 lives; five were injured.
At least 23 people were killed this morning in a direct collision between a bus and a truck on a highway in the Brazilian state of Paraná, authorities said.
The accident occurred around 3 a.m. on August 19, 2026, and, in addition to the fatalities, five people were injured. Most of the dead were passengers on the bus, and the truck driver also died, according to the Federal Highway Police.
Initial information and reaction from the local community
Initial data indicate that the truck crossed into the opposite traffic lane and a direct collision with the bus occurred. A social media post about the incident reads: "BRAZIL | An accident between a microbus and a truck left 21 dead and four injured on BR-373, in Imbituva, in the Central region of Paraná. The collision was recorded in the early hours of this Wednesday (19)."
The bus was owned by the municipal health service in Imbituva and was transporting patients to hospitals in the region and to Curitiba, the state capital. Imbituva, a town of about 30,000 inhabitants, declared two days of official mourning after the accident.
The BR-373 highway remained closed after the collision. The company that manages that part of the road, Via Araucária, said the road will remain blocked and that there is no immediate estimate when it will be reopened.
Photo: EPA
