Nineteen-year-old Matheus Henrique Oliveira Silva lost his life on the night of Saturday (24) after falling from a moving truck in Goianésia, in the Brazilian state of Goiás. The fatal accident took place during a political motorcade held in support of presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, a member of the Liberal Party (PL), on the eve of the 2026 presidential runoff election.
Paramedics from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu), Brazil’s public ambulance system, were dispatched to the scene and provided initial medical assistance to the victim. However, he succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the city’s Municipal Hospital. In an official statement released through the social media profile of the family’s business, relatives mourned the death. “Anyone who knew Matheus knows he carried a rare light. A young man of admirable values, marked by an exemplary upbringing, an honorable posture, and a unique ability to turn acquaintances into friends,” the statement said.
Police investigate whether flatbed truck struck the victim on Rua Santos Dumont
Records from the Military Police, the state law enforcement force responsible for public patrolling, indicate that the incident occurred on Rua Santos Dumont in the Covoá neighborhood. At the time of the fall, Matheus Henrique Oliveira Silva was riding on the back of a flatbed truck that was following the campaign event along the public street on the night of October 24, 2026. According to the police report, approximately 20 people were occupying the upper platform of the cargo vehicle, gathered around a sound car participating in the rally.
Eyewitnesses told military police officers that the young man attempted to climb down from the truck while the vehicle was still in motion, losing his balance and hitting the pavement. Law enforcement authorities are investigating the exact circumstances of the event and examining whether the victim was also run over by the truck itself immediately after falling from the flatbed.
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Forensic experts have not yet issued an official confirmation on whether the cargo vehicle struck the 19-year-old after he hit the ground.
Family background and condolences from political parties
The victim was the son of businessman Júlio César, who is associated with Govel, an automotive sector company based in the municipality of Goianésia. Regarding his academic background, the teenager had graduated from high school in 2025 at the Colégio Estadual da Polícia Militar de Goiás (CEPMG) José Carrilho, a state public school managed by the Military Police.
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His death on the day before the presidential vote prompted public expressions of condolence from relatives, friends, and the local directories of both the Liberal Party (PL) and the Workers’ Party (PT). On social media, a family acquaintance paid tribute to the teenager. “Still in shock, I watched him grow up, such a cheerful and loving boy,” she stated in the post. Matheus Henrique Oliveira Silva is survived by his parents, siblings, and girlfriend.
