Pernambuco Health Department updates the number of deaths after being run over in a procession | Brazil

Recife – The accident with a minibus that ran over several worshipers in a procession, on Easter Sunday (31), left five people dead, according to the Pernambuco Health Department. The number of deaths was updated this Tuesday (2) by the department. The Fire Department had initially announced seven deaths, however, the number was changed by the Secretariat this Tuesday to five. The case took place in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Metropolitan Region of Recife.

Of the five deaths, two occurred before the Samu team arrived at the scene (Edite Maria da Silva, aged 51, and Teresa Cristina Batista da Silveira, aged 66). Two other deaths occurred during care and transfer to the Imbiribeira UPA (Amauri João de Lima, aged 68) and to the Ibura UPA (Edson Maurício Barbosa, aged 52).

There is also a death already registered in a health unit, at Hospital da Restauração (Jéssica Kelly Mendonça dos Santos, aged 22).

According to the latest update from the Secretariat, published this Tuesday morning (2), of the 16 victims who were hospitalized, two women were medically discharged, one 53 years old, who was at Dom Hélder Hospital, and another woman , 67 years old, who was at Hospital da Restauração.

In total, 14 patients remain hospitalized in the State Network, 8 of which are in Hospital da Restauração (four in a more serious but stable state of health and another four out of danger); and 6 patients at Dom Hélder Hospital, all of whom were in stable condition.

The DIA had published this Monday (1st) that there were seven fatalities. The publication was based on information from the Fire Department.

The accident

According to Major Rafael Silva, operations supervisor at the Pernambuco Fire Department, the driver of the vehicle lost control of the steering wheel and ended up hitting the faithful who were participating in the religious procession.

The vehicle is part of the auxiliary public transport network in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, which takes residents from the outskirts of the city to the so-called “integrations”, from where other buses leave for other more central regions, such as Recife.

Driver will respond freely

In a note sent this Monday (1st), the Civil Police of Pernambuco reported that the driver presented himself to the police hours after the tragedy, gave a statement and was released. According to the corporation, as he presented himself spontaneously, he will respond freely.

“(…) It is still under investigation, through the Sectional Police Station, in Prazeres, regarding the tragic traffic accident, involving a minibus and faithful, in the neighborhood of Marcos Freire, in Jaboatão dos Guararapes. The driver introduced himself and was interviewed on Sunday (31)”, says the note.

The corporation also states that “investigations continue until the incident is fully clarified. More information will be provided after the research is completed.”