SAO PAULO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people died and 23 others were injured as a result of a chain collision of 22 vehicles in the municipality of Sao Jose dos Pinhais, in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, local police reported on Monday.
The accident occurred Sunday night on federal highway BR-277 and according to the eyewitness account, it was due to the heavy smoke from burning grasslands in the area.
Police spokesman Davi Prestes explained that two cars first collided and later caused a chain accident in which 16 cars, five motorcycles as well as a truck were involved on the road to the city of Curitiba.
According to the police report, the injured were transferred to the Cajuru hospital in Sao Jose dos Pinhais. Enditem
