By Ben Tavener
SAO PAULO
Eleven people were killed, including seven teens, when a school bus collided with a truck laden with vegetable oil in the state of São Paulo, authorities said Tuesday.
The side of the bus, that was carrying 40 people, was torn off and passengers were hurled into the road when the two vehicles crashed. The crash occurred around 11:30 p.m. local time Monday (0130GMT) near the city of Ibitinga, 217 miles 350 kilometers (350 km) northeast of São Paulo city.
The students killed are believed to be between 14 and 17 years of age. The adult fatalities included three teachers and the mother of one of the students.
Those thrown into the road died instantly, local media reported, while others were trapped in the wreckage.
The drivers of the vehicles, and at least 24 students, were also injured in the crash, and were taken to nearby hospitals. Four students remain in a critical condition in intensive care units; others escaped with less serious injuries.
Witnesses told police that the truck crossed into oncoming traffic and then hit the bus head-on.
The students from the Dom Gastão Liberal Pinto were returning from a school trip to São Paulo in a convoy of three buses; two had already reached the students' hometown of Borborema, about 18.5 niles (30 km) from the site of the accident.
The victims' bodies are due to be released Tuesday, and a collective funeral ceremony is being planned, the G1 news portal said.
Borborema city hall has declared three days of official mourning following the deaths.
Brazil has one of the world's worst track records for road fatalities with nearly 44,000 deaths reported in 2010, according to the World Health Organization.
www.aa.com.tr/en
