How Did 3 People Die and 45 Get Injured in the BR-262 Bus Crash in Ibatiba, Brazil?

Quick answer: Forensic analysis by the Espírito Santo Polícia Científica found a serious brake failure on the tour bus that overturned on the BR-262 highway near Ibatiba, Brazil, on 27 September 2026, killing three people and injuring 45. The brake linings on one axle were completely worn, and the bus was also travelling at excessive speed.

Key facts

• What: Tour bus overturn
• Where: BR-262 at Curva da Ferradura, Ibatiba, Espírito Santo, Brazil
• When: 27 September 2026; forensic findings reported 20 October 2026
• Toll: 3 killed, 45 injured — 48 people on board
• Source: A Gazeta / Tribuna Online

What happened

The bus, registered in Contagem (Minas Gerais) and carrying an excursion group of 48 people returning from Itaoca, left the road at the Curva da Ferradura — described as a critical stretch — and overturned on the BR-262 in the municipality of Ibatiba, in the south of Espírito Santo.

Those who died were the driver, Douglas Rodrigues de Souza Oliveira, 38, from Contagem, and two passengers, Vera Lúcia de Andrade, 44, and Maria Aparecida Martins Barbosa, 53, both from Belo Horizonte. The remaining passengers were injured and taken to hospitals in the region.

What the forensic report found

Temístocles Macedo, an official criminal forensics expert and head of the Engineering Forensics Department of the Polícia Científica, said the examinations identified completely worn brake linings on one of the bus's axles alongside excessive speed. Radar images supplied by the DNIT (National Department of Transport Infrastructure) captured the bus's speed as it passed.

Given the level of wear on the linings and the distance the bus had travelled, the expert said the vehicle should not have left the garage in that condition, pointing to negligence in maintenance and in the checks before the vehicle was released for the trip. The perícia also identified maintenance and control failures in how the coach was cleared for service.

Investigation and what happens next

The Civil Police have opened an inquiry to establish the circumstances of the crash. Brazil's National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) said at the time that the bus was operating irregularly on the route. The vehicle, plate KJJ-3E79, belonged to GOJ Transporte e Turismo Ltda. of Contagem; the company's representative said the bus had been sold, and reporters were still seeking a response from the current owner.

Frequently asked questions

### How many people died in the Ibatiba bus crash? Three people died — the driver and two passengers — and 45 more were injured.

Where did the crash happen?

On the BR-262 highway at the Curva da Ferradura, in Ibatiba, in the south of Espírito Santo state, Brazil.

What caused the crash?

According to forensic analysis, a serious brake failure — brake linings completely worn on one axle — combined with excessive speed. The bus left the road at a bend described as critical.

Who owned the bus?

The bus (plate KJJ-3E79) belonged to GOJ Transporte e Turismo Ltda. of Contagem, Minas Gerais. The ANTT said it was operating irregularly on the route, and the company said the vehicle had since been sold.

*This report is compiled from verified reporting by A Gazeta and Tribuna Online (20 October 2026); figures may be updated as the police inquiry progresses.*