Severe crash on Brazil's BR‑494 leaves 71‑year‑old driver in critical condition

A head‑on collision involving two VW Saveiro pickups occurred at 07:33 on July 7 on the BR‑494 between Divinópolis and Nova Serrana, Minas Gerais. The 71‑year‑old driver of the white Saveiro entered the highway from a nearby fuel station without waiting for a safe gap and struck a silver Saveiro driven by a 20‑year‑old traveling in the opposite direction. The impact trapped the older driver in the wreckage; firefighters from the Military Firefighters Corps extricated him and he was taken in serious condition to the Red Ward of Hospital São João de Deus in Divinópolis. The younger driver sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local urgent‑care unit. No fatalities were reported. Police investigators are examining vehicle positions, speed and road conditions, while authorities reiterated safety advice that drivers must ensure a clear gap before merging onto highways, especially at access points with high traffic volume.