ACR WDB IN FLT ENCOUNTER WITH TSTM ACTIVITY CAUSING PASSENGER INJURIES.

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DEPARTED JFK ENRTE TO RIO DE JANEIRO; BRAZIL. WX DEPARTING FRONTAL PASSAGE. ENRTE WX PRIOR TO INCIDENT CONTINUAL LIGHT CHOP VMC. SEATBELT SIGN ON MOST OF FLT. ENCOUNTERED WHAT APPEARED TO BE MATURE TO DISSIPATING CB'S S OF ADAMS (BARBADOS) OUR ALT WAS FL370. MANEUVERED SLIGHTLY W OF DIRECT TRACK TO AVOID OBVIOUS CB. WAS RETURNING TO DIRECT TRACK IN IMC USING RADAR TO AVOID BUILDUPS WHICH WERE IN ALL QUADRANTS. NO LIGHTNING ACTIVITY. ENCOUNTERED LIGHT HAIL; ST ELMO'S FIRE. ALT DEVIATION TO 37500'; THEN TO 36600'; THEN TO FL370; OUR FLT ALT. PITCH UP AND DOWN; THEN UP AGAIN; ALL VERY RAPID HAVING ENCOUNTERED AN ACTIVE CB CLOSE TO THE TOP IMC CONDITIONS AT ALL TIMES. MOON HAD SET; SO IT WAS BLACK OUTSIDE. THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS AND HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED! FLT SVC RPTED INJURIES TO PAX IN REAR OF ACFT. INJURIES: BRUISES; BACK; ARMS TO 7 PAX. AFTER LNDG 1 PAX HAD HAIRLINE FRACTURE IN RIGHT FOREARM WRIST AREA. IN AN UNRELATED INCIDENT FIRST CLASS PAS HAD APPARENT MASSIVE CORONARY AND DIED. HOW TO PREVENT IS NOT PRACTICAL. NEVER FLY IN ANY KIND OF TURB/OR CLOSE TO CB'S. POSSIBLY ON BOARD TV OF WX IN FRONT BY SATELLITE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 94653: WE ENCOUNTERED THE TOP OF A CB THAT WAS NOT SHOWING ON RADAR AND THE ACFT PITCHED VIOLENTLY UP; THEN DOWN BEFORE THE CAPT BROUGHT IT UNDER CONTROL. WE HAD SEVERE TO MODERATE TURB FOR A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE WE WERE CLR.