A 34-year-old mother of two tragically died after participating in a race event in Baianópolis, Brazil, last Sunday.
As the competitors neared the finish line, Jaiane Souza Oliveira Fernandes collided with a sound truck parked beside the track. The force of the impact caused a speaker to fall and crush her, The Mirror reports.
Horrified spectators rushed to lift the speaker off the cyclist and administer first aid. Paramedics arrived quickly and transported Jaiane to the hospital, where she was in critical condition with severe head injuries.
Despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead. Event organizers, Dubai Bikers, expressed their condolences on social media, writing: “The loss of this special person leaves a deep void in our hearts. May the memories and legacy bring comfort and strength.”
Video footage captured by a bystander suggests that a cyclist overtook Jaiane and moved too close in front of her, causing her to lose balance and crash into the parked truck fatally.
Another competitor also collided with the sound truck but escaped without injury. Police responded to the scene to investigate, but the sound truck had already left, according to NeedToKnow.
Local authorities are investigating the accident.
Jaiane is survived by her husband, who also participated in the cycling competition last weekend, and her twin boys. She was a passionate cyclist and frequently competed in local cycling events.
Jaiane’s funeral took place the next day, attended by dozens of fellow cyclists.
A video shared on Instagram by a local outlet showed a procession of cyclists honoring Jaiane by riding alongside the car carrying her coffin before forming a guard of honor with their bikes for the 34-year-old.
According to the post, around 70 cyclists from various cities in the western region participated in the tribute, wishing to pay their respects to Jaiane, who was well-known for her passion for cycling.
The post also mentioned that she is survived by her husband and twin sons.
As reported by The US Sun, social media users expressed their condolences to Jaiane and her family. One person commented: “What a beautiful and sad tribute at the same time.”
Another person added: “A tribute showing the union of cyclists; it was beautiful even though it was a goodbye.”
A third penned: “Absolutely devistating , you just never know what is round the corner. the poor family. RIP. [sic]”