53 Killed After Spill of Flammable Liquids

Two trucks spilled flammable liquids onto a highway in southern Brazil, igniting a fire that burned two buses carrying pilgrims home from a religious festival. At least 53 people were killed and dozens more injured. The crash took place just before 3 a.m. on the Anhanguera Highway near Araras, 110 miles northwest of Sao Paulo. “The tanker truck lost control and flipped,” Araras fire official Wilson Lima said. He said a liquor truck rammed it from behind, and fuel the tanker was carrying spilled onto the highway. The buses were in the pool of liquid when it burst into flames, Lima said. Lima said 39 people were hospitalized but most were released. The buses were heading to Anapolis with pilgrims returning from Aparecida, a town 110 miles northeast of Sao Paulo.