How Did Luiz Gonzaga's Nephew and His Wife Die in the BR-235 Crash in Bahia?

Quick answer

Fausto Luiz Maciel, the nephew of Brazilian forro legend Luiz Gonzaga, and his wife Maria Dalgilmar Barbosa de Amorim Maciel died in a collision between a car and a lorry on Monday 19 October 2026 on the BR-235 highway near the access contour to Sobradinho, in Santana do Sobrado, district of Casa Nova, in northern Bahia. Two people died and three were injured. The crash was reported by G1 Bahia (g1 BA and TV Sao Francisco) on 20 October 2026.

• What happened: a car with five occupants collided with a lorry travelling from Casa Nova toward Petrolina on the BR-235, near the Sobradinho access contour.
• The victims: the couple died at the scene. Fausto Luiz Maciel was the nephew of Luiz Gonzaga, the sanfoneiro known as the Rei do Baiao, and had played alongside him for many years.
• The injured: one of the couple's daughters and her husband were hospitalised but conscious; another son suffered minor injuries and was discharged.
• Emergency response: four ambulances were mobilised - three from Sobradinho and one from Santana do Sobrado. The injured were taken to health units in Sobradinho and Casa Nova.
• Investigation: the Casa Nova Civil Police precinct opened an inquiry; the Department of Technical Police (DPT) carried out forensic work, and the bodies were taken to the IML.

The victims

Fausto Luiz Maciel was the nephew of Luiz Gonzaga, the sanfoneiro known across Brazil as the Rei do Baiao. According to G1, he had played with his famous uncle for many years. He died alongside his wife, Maria Dalgilmar Barbosa de Amorim Maciel.

The family had spent the weekend reunited in Exu, Pernambuco - Luiz Gonzaga's birthplace - where one of the couple's daughters had travelled from Rio de Janeiro. They were on their way to a vineyard in the Casa Nova region when the crash happened.

The couple's two children and a son-in-law were also in the car. One daughter and her husband remained in hospital but conscious, while another son was discharged with minor injuries.

Emergency response and investigation

Four ambulances responded - three from Sobradinho and one from Santana do Sobrado - and the injured were taken to health units in Sobradinho and Casa Nova. The Civil Police precinct of Casa Nova opened an investigation into the crash, with forensics from the Department of Technical Police (DPT); the bodies of the couple were taken to the IML.

Why this story matters

The BR-235 is a major federal highway through Brazil's north-east, and collisions with lorries are among the deadliest crash types on the network. This tragedy also has national cultural significance: Luiz Gonzaga is one of the most beloved figures in Brazilian music, and the death of his nephew has drawn widespread attention to the crash.

Source

This report is based on the G1 Bahia article "Acidente entre carro e caminhao na Bahia" by g1 BA and TV Sao Francisco, published 20/10/2026 15h58 (original: https://g1.globo.com/ba/bahia/noticia/2026/10/20/acidente-entre-carro-e-caminhao-na-bahia.ghtml).

Frequently asked questions

Who died in the BR-235 crash in Bahia?

Fausto Luiz Maciel, the nephew of musician Luiz Gonzaga, and his wife Maria Dalgilmar Barbosa de Amorim Maciel. Both died at the scene.

Where and when did the crash happen?

On Monday 19 October 2026, on the BR-235 highway near the access contour to Sobradinho, in Santana do Sobrado, district of Casa Nova, northern Bahia.

How many people were involved?

Seven: five in the car (the couple, two of their children and a son-in-law) and two in the lorry. Two died and three were injured.

What are the authorities doing?

The Casa Nova Civil Police precinct opened an inquiry, the DPT carried out forensic work, and the bodies were sent to the IML.

Who was Luiz Gonzaga?

Luiz Gonzaga (1912-1989), the sanfoneiro known as the Rei do Baiao, was one of Brazil's most celebrated musicians. His nephew Fausto Luiz Maciel had played alongside him for many years.