By ANTARA News/Xinhua
Rio de Janeiro : At least eight people died and 26 got injured on Thursday in an accident involving a bus that fell down from a road connecting the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, local press reported on Thursday.
The number of fatal casualties includes two children. The injured victims were taken to hospitals in the region.
According to NovaDutra, the private company that runs the Presidente Dutra road, one of the most important in the country, it is possible that other dead bodies will be found within the wreckage of the vehicle.
The bus had left Vitoria, capital city of Espirito Santo state, and headed to Sao Paulo. The accident took place at 9:12 a.m. (local time), in the municipality of Aparecida.
The Federal Road Police told the press that a pickup truck suddenly blocked the bus` way, leading its driver to lose control over the vehicle, which was taking 35 passengers and another employee of Itapemirim, the company that operates the bus line.
The transportation company issued a statement stressing that the conductor was driving within the speed limits and that it will investigate the cause of the accident.
Additionally, it stated that it will not release a list with the victims` names until their families are notified.