A float crashed during Rio de Janeiro’s world famous Carnival parade Sunday evening and injured at least 20 people, including three people reported in serious condition, but organizers proceeded with the show.
The incident involved the last float of the first samba school parading through Rio’s Sambadrome. The float of samba school Paraiso de Tuiuti crashed into a fence that separates the stands from the pavement, injuring spectators, revelers and journalists.
Police began an investigation as soon as the float finished its transit through the Sambadrome. Police investigator William Lourenco Bezerra said the three drivers of the float would be questioned Monday morning, adding that one already had been identified as the main focus of the probe.
Rio’s state health secretary said in a statement that eight of the 20 people involved were in hospital and three women were in serious condition.