A young student died last week in a tragic accident onboard a school bus. Fernanda Pacheco Ferraz, 13, of Brazil was reportedly waving to friends from a back bus window when her head struck a pole. The teen received a massive head injury that ultimately led to her death.
The bus driver immediately alerted authorities after the devastating accident, but it was too late. The teen was dead at the scene. Sadly, Fernanda's friends watched the gruesome scene unfold.
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The teen was on her way home from school.
The Daily Mail reported Fernanda caught the 491 bus on August 16 from Professor Carlos Côrtes State College in Rio de Janeiro, where she was a student. She was headed home to the Catarcione neighborhood, according to Brazilian news outlet G1 via the Daily Mail.
The teen reportedly peeked out the window to wave to friends on the sidewalk as the bus traveled down a narrow two-way street. That is where the horrific accident occurred.
Witnesses say the bus swerved.
The bus driver for the Nova Faol bus company reportedly veered the bus away from parked cars on the side of the road, according to the Daily Mail. This reportedly occurred while Fernanda tried to wave at friends below with her head out the window. Her head hit a pole near the curb and caused her fatal injuries.
Passengers immediately notified the driver about what happened.
The bus driver was a 13-year veteran and quickly stopped the bus after he learned what had happened, the New York Post reported. The driver contacted Nova Faol to report the injury and then apparently attempted CPR on the teen while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Sadly, they were only able to confirm the teen's death.
The bus company shared its sadness about the horrific accident.
"We deeply regret the unexpected and tragic situation, reiterating that all the company's support teams are mobilized and committed to minimizing the inevitable inconvenience," the bus company shared in a statement obtained by the Daily Mail.
The Rio De Janeiro Ministry of Education echoed the bus company's thoughts in its own statement.
"The Secretary of State for Education deeply regrets the accident that occurred with a student from the Professor Carlos Côrtes State School, in the Catarcione neighborhood, in Nova Friburgo, on Wednesday, during her trip back home," the statement reads.
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Fernanda was buried the next day.
The teen was laid to rest at the Trilha do Ceu cemetery on Thursday, according to Fox News. Professor Carlos Côrtes State College reportedly closed for two days so students could properly mourn Fernanda's death. Classes resumed Monday.
Some shared thoughts about the misfortune on social media.
"it was an accident, a terrible fatality, there is an alert to teach our children, grandchildren, friends, that never, ever when you are inside a vehicle, be it a car, bus, van, do not put any part of the body out of the window, our very sad, so young, a life All ahead, may God comfort the family and friends," Priscila Cardoso wrote on Facebook.
Fox News reported that Nova Faol and the bus driver are cooperating with the police. The accident is under investigation, and whether anyone will be charged in the teen's death is unknown.
