São Paulo: driverless monorail train hits a crane that toppled onto the track
A large crane tipped over onto the elevated track of São Paulo Metro Line 15-Silver on Saturday morning, and a driverless train hit the part resting on the rails. No passengers were hurt; the crane operator injured his foot when he jumped from the cab. Police have opened an inquiry, and the line was back to normal on Sunday.
A large crane working in the yard of a private company tipped over on Saturday morning, 24 October, onto the elevated structure of São Paulo Metro Line 15-Silver, the city's monorail. It happened on Avenida Professor Luiz Ignácio Anhaia Mello, near Camilo Haddad station in the east of the city. The fire service was called at around 11:35 local time.
According to the Metro, the crane came to rest on the monorail structure and a train coming down the line then hit the part lying on the track. Line 15 runs without drivers on board. No passengers or Metro staff were hurt, and the passengers were taken off the train safely. The crane operator injured his foot when he jumped from the cab and was helped by the company that owns the crane. Videos filmed by witnesses and security cameras, including one widely shared on social media, show the moment of the collision.
Watch the moment the train hits the crane:
In Brazil, a train traveling at full speed slammed into a crane that had fallen onto the monorail tracks Miraculously, there were no casualties.
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 25, 2026
The Metro said the damage to the train was superficial, limited to the front fairing. The impact cut off part of the power supply and set off an alarm in the control centre, and the train continued to the next station before being withdrawn for checks. The monorail track itself also needed repairs to its power rail, an emergency walkway plate and a damaged concrete section.
Service was suspended between Vila Prudente and São Lucas stations from 12:04, with free PAESE emergency buses for passengers. The crane, which ended up across the avenue, was removed in the early evening; workers had to cut off a piece of its metal structure weighing about 4 tonnes. The fall also brought down a tree, power lines and a commercial building's wall, and branches and wires damaged at least three passing cars. Enel cut the electricity in the area and restored it for most customers. TV Globo reported that a pedestrian and a motorcyclist passed the spot seconds before the crane fell.
The Civil Police have opened an inquiry, registered as culpable bodily harm, and are checking whether the asphalt in the company's yard gave way under the crane. Forensic experts were due to examine the crane on Sunday. The Grupo Cortesia company, which is responsible for the crane, said it regretted the accident and was cooperating with the authorities.
On Sunday, 25 October, Line 15-Silver was back to normal operation and the emergency buses were stopped.