A 57-year-old man lost his life in a collision on BR-280, in the city of Rio Negrinho, northern region of Santa Catarina. The incident happened while he was helping his daughter-in-law, who had been involved in a previous collision on the same highway.
Joel Francisco Nunes was hit by a truck on the night of last Monday, June 22nd. Moments before the fatal impact, he managed to intervene, protecting his daughter-in-law, Jéssica Aparecida Walickoski Nunes, and his own son, who had also been summoned by her to the scene.
Jéssica, who was also hit by the vehicle, remains under medical care, hospitalized at Fundação Hospitalar de Rio Negrinho until this Wednesday, June 24th.
The first incident was recorded around 7pm, when Jéssica was returning from work. The Military Fire Department was called to respond to the collision involving the Renault Sandero vehicle, which she was driving, and a VW Gol.
After the first impact, Jéssica was not injured and refused the medical attention offered. The driver of the Gol, a 70-year-old man, and the two passengers in the car also required assistance at the scene.
Details of the second accident on the BR-280 highway
After the initial collision, the teacher called her husband and father-in-law to help her while they waited for the tow truck service to arrive.
With family members present at the scene, on the banks of BR-280, a truck traveling towards Rio Negrinho-Mafra lost directional control, hitting the group.
This second accident happened at approximately 9 pm. Later, straight from the hospital, Jéssica gave a statement about what happened.
She described the moment: “The truck was coming towards Rio Negrinho towards Mafra. He braked and the body turned in an ‘S’ and hit us. My father-in-law managed to push my husband, who didn’t get hurt badly. When he was going to push me, the truck hit us both, but he kind of protected me.”
Information from firefighters indicates that the driver of the truck responsible for the collision fled the scene without providing any type of assistance to the victims, a serious conduct that worsened the incident.
Upon arrival, the rescue teams found Joel unconscious and in cardiorespiratory arrest on the side of the track, already receiving first care from health professionals who were passing through the area.
He was promptly taken to the Rio Negrinho Hospital Foundation, but, unfortunately, his death was confirmed shortly after his arrival.
Jéssica, in turn, was conscious during the treatment. After being immobilized, she was rescued and transported by Samu to the same hospital unit. Her husband had no serious injuries.
Tributes to the father-in-law who worked to protect the family
Jéssica expressed deep sadness over the loss of her father-in-law, who worked as a truck driver and also carried out freight on weekends.
Moved, she declared: “My father-in-law was a hero for us. He was an incredible person, he treated me like a daughter. He was loving to my mother-in-law, very affectionate with us. He had a patience, a calmness. I can say that he was a second father to me.”
Joel’s wake was held last Tuesday, June 23rd, at the Henvida Chapel in Rio Negro. The burial took place this Wednesday, June 24, at the Rio Negro Municipal Cemetery.