A float in the União de Maricá samba school’s parade collided with a safety barrier at the Marquês de Sapucaí samba stadium in Rio de Janeiro early Sunday morning, injuring at least three people. One member of the school’s support team suffered a severe leg fracture and was transported to the Municipal Hospital Souza Aguiar, officials said.
The incident occurred as the final float of União de Maricá’s performance crossed the finish line, impacting the barrier protecting the perimeter of the parade route, according to reports from the scene. Witnesses reported that team members attempted to maneuver the float after the initial impact, but were hampered by a crowd of onlookers. At least one person was trapped beneath the structure, prompting a frantic effort to lift the float and free the individual.
Fire Department Colonel Samuel Martins, who is overseeing operations at Sapucaí, confirmed that five people were injured in the incident, with one in serious condition. All of the injured were taken to Souza Aguiar hospital for treatment. Some spectators in the dispersal area and Sector 12 reported feeling unwell and received medical attention at the stadium’s first aid station.
The accident occurred after the school reportedly accelerated its pace in an attempt to avoid exceeding the allotted parade time. The float struck the barrier at the point where a gate was about to be closed, according to eyewitness accounts. A separate, minor incident involving a small fire on a second float during the dispersal phase may have contributed to the congestion in the area.
The injured have been identified as Itamar de Oliveira, 65, a member of the school’s support team, who sustained a bilateral open fracture of his right leg and vascular damage; Rodrigo de Oliveira Carvalho, 40, who suffered a sprained right ankle; and Ivan Simão Matias, 56, who sustained superficial injuries and was treated and released at the Sapucaí first aid station.
União de Maricá released a statement acknowledging the incident involving the final float and Mr. De Oliveira, stating that the school is providing full support and has representatives at the Souza Aguiar hospital. “União de Maricá expresses its solidarity with Mr. Itamar de Oliveira and his family. At this moment, nothing is more essential than the health and full recovery of those involved,” the statement read.
The Liga RJ, the organization overseeing the Série Ouro parades, stated it is closely monitoring the situation and confirmed that first responders provided immediate assistance and transported the injured to the nearest hospital.
This is the third such incident at Sapucaí in the last decade. Similar accidents occurred during the Paraíso do Tuiuti parade in 2017 and with Em Cima da Hora in 2022, the latter resulting in the death of a young girl.
Police from the 6th DP in Cidade Nova have launched an investigation into the accident. The initial forensic examination of the scene was hampered by cleanup efforts, with bloodstains and a shoe belonging to one of the injured being removed before investigators arrived. The area was also partially shared with the Porto da Pedra samba school, which was permitted to begin its parade before the forensic work was completed. The damaged barrier remains in place, bearing marks of blood and fragments of the float’s decorations.