The Presidente Dutra highway serves as the primary artery of Brazilian commerce, a vital stretch of asphalt connecting the industrial hubs of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. On Sunday afternoon, that flow was violently interrupted at kilometer 273, near the city of Barra Mansa, when a tanker truck carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) lost control and exploded.
Initial reports from the Federal Highway Police suggest the vehicle struck a concrete median dividing the north and southbound lanes. The resulting blast was catastrophic, instantly engulfing three passenger cars and a motorcycle. What began as a routine transit on Brazil’s most traveled corridor quickly turned into a scene of industrial wreckage, leaving five people dead and several others hospitalized with severe injuries.
The incident underscores the inherent volatility of the nation’s logistics network, where hazardous materials are moved daily through critical infrastructure. While the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police have opened an inquiry to analyze security footage and determine the precise cause of the failure, the event serves as a stark reminder of the thin margin for error in heavy-vehicle transport.
With reporting from InfoMoney.
Source · InfoMoney
