The town of Sidrolândia came to a standstill this week as residents, family, and friends gathered to say a final, agonizing goodbye to 32-year-old Drielle Leite Lopes and three of her children. The community is reeling from a devastating highway accident that has transformed a celebration of a new family milestone into a scene of unimaginable grief. The wake, held at the Sidrolândia City Council chambers, was marked by deep sorrow and a palpable sense of anger. Drielle and her children—Helena, 10; João Lúcio, 2; and José Augusto, just 4 months old—were killed on the night of April 6, 2025, in a multi-vehicle collision on the BR-060.
A Milestone Cut Short
The tragedy is compounded by the reason the family was on the road that evening. Drielle had been visiting her mother to share the joyful news that she and her husband, Oldiney Centurion Saraiva, had finally purchased their own home. It was a dream the hardworking mother had long cherished—a future that was erased in a matter of seconds.
“She was a wonderful person, an exemplary mother,” her mother-in-law, Aucélia Centurião Rocha, shared during the wake. “She never even raised her voice at her children. My heart is in pieces.”
The Collision: A Fatal Choice
Investigations into the crash reveal a harrowing sequence of events. According to the Civil Police and the Federal Highway Police (PRF):
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The Cause: A Chevrolet Corsa, driven by 29-year-old David Lopes Queiroz, reportedly attempted a high-speed overtake of a semi-truck but failed. Upon trying to return to his lane, the driver clipped the truck, lost control, and veered into the path of the family’s VW Saveiro.
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Intoxication: Police confirmed that the driver of the Corsa was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. His vehicle caught fire shortly after the impact; he was thrown from the car as he was not wearing a seatbelt.
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The Toll: Drielle and the three youngest children died at the scene. Oldiney (the father) and their 13-year-old son, Otávio, survived but sustained severe injuries.
The Survivors: A Long Road Ahead
While Oldiney was released from the hospital in time to attend the funeral of his wife and children, the couple’s eldest son, Otávio, remains in intensive care.
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Medical Status: The 13-year-old has already undergone five surgeries for fractures in his legs, femur, arm, and jaw.
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A Community’s Support: Friends and family have launched a campaign to help the survivors cover the mounting medical costs and rehabilitation needed for Otávio to walk again.
A Town in Mourning
In response to the tragedy, the Sidrolândia City Council declared three days of official mourning. The event has sparked a renewed conversation across Mato Grosso do Sul regarding the “Maio Amarelo” (Yellow May) traffic safety initiative, with advocates citing this case as a grim reminder of the lethal consequences of drunk driving.
Drielle Leite Lopes was remembered not just as a victim of a crash, but as a devoted mother whose “Big Dream” of a family home had finally come true—only to be taken away by an avoidable act of negligence.
