Two cyclists were severely injured after being run over on Friday morning on Estrada dos Bandeirantes in Vargem Pequena, West Zone of Rio de Janeiro. The driver of the vehicle was former Botafogo base player Luan Plácido Moreira da Costa, 21, who was arrested on the spot. Apart from the cyclists, a pedestrian was also hit. The victims were taken to Hospital Municipal Lourenço Jorge in Barra da Tijuca, but one did not survive.
Witnesses report that Luan stayed at the scene and even called for help. He got into a police car with his girlfriend and accompanied the victims to the hospital. However, at the health facility, the athlete displayed aggressive behavior. According to Alan Luxardo, the chief of the 42nd Precinct (Recreio dos Bandeirantes), the ex-Botafogo player tried to grab the rifle of the military policeman who was with him and his girlfriend, broke the internal glass of the vehicle, and had to be restrained.
“He cursed a lot, shouted at the police officers, and tried to take one of their weapons. A firefighter was called to help contain him. He needed medication, but even after taking it, he headbutted a police officer. He is now facing charges of damage to public property because he also damaged part of the interior of the vehicle, contempt, bodily harm, and we are waiting for the autopsy report from the IML to determine if he was under the influence of alcohol or any other drug,” Luxardo said.
Three of the victims were riding bicycles, one of them reportedly a delivery app worker. The injured parties are Wendell de Almeida, 28; José Armando Cassiano, 22; and Ariana de Carvalho da Silva, 51; as well as a woman around 35 years old who has not been identified yet. According to Hospital Municipal Lourenço Jorge’s management, patient Ariana did not survive her injuries and passed away at the health facility. Wendell and José were treated and discharged, while the other victim was transferred to Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto in grave condition.
