A wheelchair user was forced to crawl off a bus using her arms after the vehicle’s accessibility lift allegedly failed.
Shocking footage shows the disabled passenger dragging herself down the steps while fellow travellers watched and filmed on their phones.
The woman appeared to receive no assistance as she slowly lowered herself to the ground after becoming stranded on the bus.
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The incident happened in Divinópolis, Brazil, on Saturday (27 June) evening and sparked widespread outrage after the video was shared online.
The footage eventually reached Mayor Janete Aparecida, who demanded an investigation and launched efforts to identify the woman involved.
After tracking her down, officials advised her to file a police report over the incident, as reported by Need To Know.
The local council has since opened a formal case against bus operator Consórcio Transoeste amid concerns about the condition and accessibility of its fleet.
Officials said the company will face increased scrutiny and confirmed the current operating contract will not be renewed when it expires in 2027, with a new tender process planned.
In a statement, Consórcio Transoeste described the incident as an isolated case which it said does not reflect its normal operations.
The company said the accessibility lift is electrical equipment that can fail unexpectedly despite regular maintenance checks.
It added that drivers inspect the equipment before each shift and expressed regret for the passenger’s ordeal.
The operator also said it remains committed to accessibility and passenger safety and would be willing to explain its maintenance procedures to authorities.
The incident has renewed calls for better protections and accessibility standards for disabled passengers using public transport.
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