Four dead, including three teenagers, when bus carrying soccer team in Brazil crashes off bridge after driver lost control

FOUR people have been killed, including three teenagers, after a bus carrying a football team fell off a 32ft bridge in Brazil.

Another 29 people were injured in the horrific accident in Além Paraíba, Brazil, when the driver of the Esporte Clube Vila Maria Helena team lost control of the vehicle.

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The victims, who have not yet been identified, are three teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, and one adult, reports G1.

The football team was on its way back to Duque de Caxias after a game for the Ubaporanga National Cup tournament.

The bus fell headfirst into the creek when the driver on the BR-116 lost control.

24 of the wounded were taken to the São Salvador Hospital, while another five were taken to the Casa de Caridade Leopoldinense in Leopoldina.

Rescue workers rushed to the scene on Monday morning.

The team returned home on Sunday after a soccer match against Simonesia.

It was first in the U18 category and second in the U16 category.

A 16-year-old survivor told TV Integração he was lucky to sit in the back of the bus as the front suffered the most damage, while another teenager said he was able to get out of the vehicle after his friend managed to do so be to open the bus door.

He added: “Everyone was happy to win the title and unfortunately that’s what happened.

“It was very fast. Everyone slept.”

In a statement, bus company LG Turismo expressed its condolences to the families of the victims.

They said: “We make ourselves available to provide all necessary assistance to the relevant authorities, passengers and their families.

“We are registered with ANTT and the passenger list contains 31 passengers plus driver.

“We are currently awaiting further information from the local PRF and company officials are on their way to follow-up closely.”

An investigation into the accident has been launched, police said.