Nine people, including seven young individuals aged 15 to 21, died in an accident on Sunday in Parana state, local authorities reported on Monday.
The accident occurred when a truck carrying a container lost its brakes while descending a hill and collided with a van returning from a rowing competition in Sao Paulo, according to the federal highway police. The truck subsequently crushed the van after colliding with a car.
Among the ten people who were in the van, only a 17-year-old survived, sustaining minor injuries. He was admitted to a hospital in Joinville along with the truck driver, who also suffered slight injuries. The driver of the car involved emerged unscathed.
The van’s passengers were members of a rowing team from Pelotas in Rio Grande do Sul, returning from a competition where they had won seven medals.
“With sadness, I learned of the deaths of nine people, including seven young individuals, in a tragic accident in Guaratuba. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims,” Brazilian President Lula da Silva wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite also paid tribute to the victims, describing the young individuals as “worthy representatives” of their country.