Homage to dead Corinthians fans has drums, hymns and emotion – 08/21/2023 – Daily life

The tribute to Corinthians fans killed in a bus accident in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte brought together hundreds of family members, friends and members of organized supporters. The ceremony was held on Monday night (21) in Pindamonhangaba, in the interior of São Paulo, where three of the seven victims lived.

It was already night when the bodies arrived at the Professor Manoel César Ribeiro gymnasium, the site of the ceremony. The intense sound of drums, accompanied by hymns sung by those present, set the tone of the tribute.

“That’s how he wanted to leave, in black and white and surrounded by the cheering crowd. He already told me once,” reports Lucinne Costa, 26, about her husband Renan Wellington Barbosa, 32. “He was a fanatical Corinthians fan and only wore the team shirt, wherever he went”.

After the effusive welcome, the drums fell silent so everyone could say goodbye. Corinthians banners and flags decorated the walls of the gym. “We were always together, in games and in our meetings, so they are our brothers who are gone”, said Bruno Freitas, 44, leader of Gaviões in Vale do Paraíba, who at the last minute gave up traveling to Belo Horizonte at the end of week.

The group traveled to the capital of Minas Gerais to watch the match between Corinthians and Cruzeiro on Saturday. At the beginning of the return journey, the following morning, the driver lost control and overturned the bus when it reached a ravine. There were 43 passengers returning to São Paulo, 36 were injured and seven died on the spot. Seven passengers are still hospitalized – the driver is still in serious condition.

Some fans who were in the accident and went to the ceremony this Monday, even with some injuries, but did not want to be interviewed because they were very shaken.

The self-employed Mateus Maciel, 47, was the uncle of one of the victims, Allan Aguiar, 31. “He traveled directly with the fans and went to that game because he wanted to meet the Mineirão. He even sent a message, saying that he would arrive at 3 pm on Sunday, to have lunch with the family here in Pinda,” he says.

Allan’s aunt, Stefânia Maciel, 52, also participated in the tribute to her nephew. “His passion was Corinthians, he went to almost every game. Now it will be difficult to watch and know that he is not in the stands”, she said.

After the homage, which lasted about an hour, the bodies of Renan Wellington Barbosa and José Antônio da Silva, 50, were taken to Taubaté, and Rodrigo Lacerda de Barros, 32, to São Luiz do Paraitinga —the fans will be veiled in the cities in which they lived and buried on the morning of this Tuesday (22). Among those killed in the accident, Andrew Nicolas Francisco, 32, was the only one who did not attend the tribute, and went directly to the wake in São José dos Campos.

The three fans who lived in Pindamonhangaba will be held collectively in the homage’s gymnasium, and will be buried at 8:00 am on Tuesday at the city’s municipal cemetery. They are Allan Aguiar, Hamilton dos Santos, 46, and Valderlei Simão, 41.

Bus carrying crowd was irregular

The bus carrying Corinthians fans was irregular, according to ANTT (National Land Transport Agency). According to the agency, buses with license plate LPH3885 are not registered or authorized to carry out interstate passenger transport, “therefore the trip is considered irregular”.

According to firefighters, the bus belongs to CFV Martins Transportes, based in Jacareí.

A Sheet called the company, but the calls went to voicemail. Text messages were not answered.

ANTT regretted and sympathized with the families of the victims of the accident. He also said he would provide the information to public security authorities to support investigations.

The accident occurred at km 525 of the Fernão Dias highway, on the way down the mountain.

The vehicle overturned at 2:50 am, while returning to Taubaté, in São Paulo. In total, there were 43 passengers, of which 36 were injured and seven died on the spot.

According to the Minas Gerais Fire Department, before reaching a ravine and overturning, the driver of the vehicle would have shouted that the bus had no brakes. The PRF (Federal Highway Police) reported that the technical expertise on the accident would be carried out by the Civil Police later this Monday.