Thirteen-year-old Brazilian equestrian competitor Bernardo Tertuliano Visona and four members of his family died after a multi-vehicle highway crash on BR-393 in Barra do Piraí, located in the southern region of Rio de Janeiro state. The collision occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at kilometer 252 near Trevo do Matadouro, involving a cargo truck hauling ceramic tiles and four passenger automobiles. Emergency officials confirmed that all five occupants inside the family vehicle died instantly at the scene, while nine other people traveling in the remaining vehicles sustained injuries.
The victims, all residents of Juiz de Fora in neighboring Minas Gerais, had departed early in the morning toward the Rio de Janeiro coast to spend the extended national holiday weekend. According to collision records compiled by the Federal Highway Police, the automobile carrying the household was traveling southward in the direction of Volta Redonda. The tractor-trailer was heading in the opposite direction toward Juiz de Fora when it overturned across the roadway, creating a major chain-reaction impact that crushed the passenger car before paramedic crews arrived.
Emergency response and medical care for highway survivors
Regional rescue teams dispatched by local emergency services attended to nine individuals who were traveling in the other passenger cars caught in the pileup. Five of those survivors suffered only minor abrasions and formally declined transport to hospital facilities following evaluations on the tarmac. Paramedics immobilized the remaining four hurt motorists and transferred them to regional emergency centers for clinical observation. Two patients were admitted to Santa Casa de Barra do Piraí, while two others were treated at Hospital Maria de Nazaré in the same municipality.
Highway operations on federal route BR-393 were halted in both directions for over five hours while emergency responders handled the scene. Highway concession workers, forensic technicians, and firefighters coordinated the uprighting of the heavy cargo carrier and cleared tons of broken ceramic tiles scattered across the pavement. The Federal Highway Police reopened both traffic lanes at approximately 11:40 a.m. after completing safety evaluations and surface washing.
Equestrian accomplishments of young champion Bernardo Visona
Bernardo Tertuliano Visona was a seventh-grade student at Colégio do Carmo in Juiz de Fora and stood out as a rising figure in Brazilian equestrian competitions. He had been riding horses since age 3 and earned two national titles in the five-drums speed discipline, along with awards in horse-handling events across the regional circuit. His athletic achievements had drawn regional television coverage on September 30, 2026, when regional broadcaster TV Integração highlighted his rapid progression through youth categories.
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The sports board of the Brazilian Association of Mangalarga Marchador Horse Breeders issued a formal resolution expressing grief over the youth competitor’s sudden death. The breed registry highlighted his dedication to junior athletic tournaments and his deep commitment to horsemanship. Fellow competitors and equestrian organizations throughout Minas Gerais shared tributes acknowledging his competitive record and regular participation in regional equestrian rings.
Victims identified as prominent Juiz de Fora educators and professionals
Authorities confirmed that the four adult victims traveling alongside Bernardo were close relatives with extensive community ties in Juiz de Fora. The group included his mother, Marcela Tertuliano Fabricio Visoná, who worked at a local dental radiology practice, and his cousin, Sarah Nocelli, a student at Colégio Santa Catarina. Also killed were Bernardo’s uncle and aunt, Anderson Nocelli Clemente and Jussara Oliveira Tertuliano Clemente, educators who owned and operated Centro Educacional Saber Mágico, an early childhood learning institution in the Borboleta neighborhood.
Anderson Nocelli Clemente had previously served as regional credit facility manager for the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais. The business federation released an official message mourning the loss of its former administrator and his family, citing his professional contributions to local industry. Both schools linked to the younger victims released statements honoring the students and extending support to staff members and classmates.
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Civil police inquiry and funeral arrangements in Minas Gerais
The 88th Civil Police Precinct in Barra do Piraí registered the crash report and launched a technical inquiry to determine the exact dynamic of the initial impact. Investigators from the local criminalistics institute collected measurements, vehicle data, and roadway markings to identify whether mechanical failure, road conditions, or driver maneuvers triggered the rollover. Autopsies were finalized by forensic pathologists at the Volta Redonda Legal Medical Institute before officials authorized the transport of the five bodies back to Minas Gerais.
Funeral services were arranged for Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Cemitério Parque da Saudade in Juiz de Fora. Family members scheduled staggered burial ceremonies throughout the afternoon, with Sarah, Jussara, and Anderson laid to rest in chapel four, followed by services for Bernardo and Marcela in chapel two.
