RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – An accident which occurred in the evening of Tuesday, August 13th, in the Prefeito Marcello Alencar Tunnel in the central region of Rio de Janeiro, has left 51 people injured. Involved in the accident were two urban buses and five cars in the lanes leading to the Novo Rio Bus Station.
The victims were aided by the Fire Department and sent to multiple hospitals. Some of them required cervical collars because of the impact.No one was seriously injured.
Also known as the Expressway, the tunnel cuts through downtown neighborhoods Gamboa and Saúde, in the port region. At 3,382 meters long, it is the longest underground tunnel in the state, allowing a direct connection between the Rio-Niterói Bridge and Avenida Brazil with Flamengo Park.
According to Rio’s City Council Center of Operations, the accident occurred at around 6 PM and, at one point, caused a complete halt in traffic in one of the tunnel’s lanes.