The pain of losing an entire family caused commotion among the population of Sidrolândia, located in the interior of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, where relatives, friends and residents paid their last respects to Drielle Leite Lopes and her three children, Helena, 10 years old, João Lúcio, 2, and José Augusto, just 3 months old.

A mother and three children were victims of a tragic accident that occurred on the BR-060. The scene at the wake, held at the city’s City Council, was marked by emotion, revolt and a deep state of shock among the family members.

The tragedy, which took the lives of four people from the same family, happened on Sunday night, between Sidrolândia and Campo Grande. The family had gone to visit Drielle’s mother to share the happy news of buying their own home, which they had made the previous week.

The collision involved a Corsa model car, driven by a mechanic who, according to reports, had used cocaine and was visibly drunk at the time of the accident.

According to the State Public Prosecutor’s Office, the driver of the Corsa attempted an unsuccessful overtaking of a truck, hit the side of the heavy vehicle and collided with a Saveiro, where Drielle’s family was.

The impact was so violent that the Corsa left the road and caught fire. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the car and suffered multiple fractures. He remains hospitalized under police escort and has been ordered to be held in preventive detention.

Drielle’s husband, who survived the accident, needed to be supported during the wake. He suffered minor injuries but is emotionally devastated. One of the couple’s children, a 12-year-old boy, also survived but remains hospitalized after undergoing five surgeries.

He suffered fractures to his arms, legs and jaw, but is out of danger. The tragedy reignites debate about reckless driving and the devastating effects of the combination of drugs, alcohol and driving.

The family’s expectation is for justice, not just as a form of punishment, but to prevent other lives from being taken in such violent and avoidable circumstances.

Karla Cortes