Vista Alegre do Alto Mourns Mayor and First Lady Killed in SP-319 Crash as Police Probe Cause

Overview

• Mayor Nelson Antônio Rozani and his wife, Rosa, died after their car hit a truck near km 9 of the SP-319 in Taquaritinga at about 10:35 p.m. Monday.
• Rita Rozani, the city’s social development secretary who was in the car, remains hospitalized at Santa Casa de Monte Alto in stable condition.
• The São Paulo state public security office said the truck driver’s breath test was negative for alcohol and police registered the case as culpable homicide in traffic, which in Brazil covers unintentional deaths as investigations proceed.
• Truck driver Luís Carlos Almeida was not hurt and said he heard a loud bang and first thought another vehicle had a tire blowout while hauling about 12 tonnes of peanuts to Jaboticabal.
• The couple were buried Tuesday in Vista Alegre do Alto as the acting mayor decreed three days of official mourning and suspended nonessential services and anniversary events.