SAO PAULO (AP) — A passenger bus in northeastern Brazil crashed into a sand embankment and flipped on its side, killing at least 17 people, authorities said Saturday.

The bus was carrying about 30 passengers, police reported. The number of injured individuals, who were taken to nearby hospitals, was not immediately clear.

The accident occurred in Saloá, a city in the state of Pernambuco. The bus was en route to the city of Brumado, located in the neighboring state of Bahia.

According to police, the driver lost control of the vehicle, crossed into the opposite lane, and collided with rocks on the roadside. Although he managed to return to the correct lane, the bus then crashed into a sand embankment, causing it to overturn.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The driver sustained minor injuries and tested negative for alcohol, authorities confirmed.

Bahia Governor Jerônimo Teixeira expressed his condolences on X, stating that his administration is supporting rescue efforts and the identification of victims. “I am following the situation with my team and deeply mourn the loss of lives, the injuries, and the suffering of all the families,” he wrote.

More than 10,000 people have died in traffic accidents in Brazil so far in 2024, according to the Ministry of Transportation.

Recent similar incidents include:

• In April, 11 people, including two children, died after a passenger bus flipped on its side in southeastern Brazil.
• In February, a bus carrying university students collided with a truck on a highway in São Paulo state, killing 12 passengers.
• Last September, a bus carrying the Coritiba Crocodiles football team overturned on a road, killing three people. The team has since drawn inspiration from the NFL to rebuild.

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