A 23-year-old student, Ellen dos Santos Reis, was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle on the BR-415 highway in Itabuna, southern Bahia, on the night of Monday, October 16. The incident occurred as she was crossing the road on a pedestrian crossing immediately after exiting a bus. She is currently hospitalized at the Hospital de Base in Itabuna, where she is receiving treatment for her severe injuries.

The accident took place near the Federal University of Southern Bahia (UFSB), where Ellen is pursuing a degree in Linguistics. Witnesses reported that the car, which belongs to a regional affiliate of Neoenergia Coelba, was speeding at the time of the incident, resulting in a significant impact that threw her onto the roadway. After the collision, the driver remained at the scene of the accident, and the loud noise of the impact was heard by bystanders, indicating the severity of the crash.

The case raises concerns about road safety, particularly in areas close to educational institutions where pedestrians, including students, frequently cross busy roads. Local authorities and the university community may need to reassess safety measures in the vicinity of UFSB to prevent future incidents of this nature, especially considering the potential consequences of high-speed traffic in pedestrian zones.