Bus had its bumper destroyed after running over two people in MangueiraMaria Eduarda Volta / Agência O Dia
Published 01/05/2024 15:37 | Updated 05/01/2024 17:20
Rio – One man died and another was injured after being run over by a bus from the Rodoviária Âncora Matias company, in the early afternoon of this Wednesday (1st), on Rua São Francisco Xavier, in Maracanã, close to the Mangueira viaduct, in the Zona North of Rio. The bus is on line 249 (Centro x Água Santa).
According to the Military Police, agents from the 6th BPM (Tijuca) were called to a traffic incident. Arriving at the scene, the police identified that two people had been run over by a bus who were close to a tire shop.
César de Souza Gomes, 40 years old, succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene. Alan Antunes da Silva was rescued and taken to the Souza Aguiar Municipal Hospital, in the center of Rio. The Municipal Health Department (SMS) reported that the victim’s condition is stable.
According to family members, César was working in a workshop and was dragged by the bus. The family lives in Mangueira and was having a barbecue when they were informed of the accident.
A security camera captured the moment the man was run over. The victim was bent over, working on a motorcycle when the bus passed, dragging the vehicles that were stopped, including César.
Civil police officers went to the location to carry out an investigation. The bus broke its front bumper and had a flat tire.
The bus driver was taken to the 25th DP (Engenho Novo), to provide clarification on the possible causes of the accident. When questioned, the Civil Police reported that they took the man’s statement and will hear witnesses in an attempt to clarify the facts.
Driver said he felt sick at the wheel
In an interview with DAY, delegate Geovan Omena, on duty at the 25th DP, said that the driver said in his statement that he had a sudden illness and only woke up when the accident had already happened. Omena explained that he will analyze images from cameras inside the bus to confirm the thesis that the driver presented.
“The driver of the bus claims that he had a sudden illness and when he woke up he had already caused the entire accident with one fatal victim and one injured person. I have already requested the cameras on the bus and the location investigation has already been carried out. Maybe that will help us a lot , solving and giving us direction for the investigation are the images from the cameras. One of them is directed towards the driver, if at a certain point, he blacks out, faints and the accident occurs, it will be proven that what he claimed here at the scene. police station is true. Now, on the other hand, if the image doesn’t demonstrate this, it’s just a defense thesis that will fall apart the moment we get possession of the images”, he said.
The driver, whose identity was not revealed, has worked for the company for 30 years. According to the delegate, no arrest was made in the act because the driver remained at the scene and provided assistance to the victims.
“The incident was presented and a report of arrest in the act was not drawn up due to article 301 of the Traffic Code, which establishes that, in cases of an accident involving a victim, if assistance is provided, a report of arrest in the act will not be drawn up or if will require bail. As the driver remained at the scene, awaited the arrival of the Military Police and was presented here, I am opening a police investigation to determine the driver’s responsibility. Now, we must continue the investigation to finalize the investigation”, he added.
Lawyer Marcelo de Souza Andrade, 56, who represents César’s family, told DAY who followed the bus driver’s testimony at the 25th DP and that the victim’s family members are devastated by the situation.
“I just came from the police station where I followed the driver’s statement. According to his statement, he said he felt ill. I still don’t have any further information about what happened. The family is very shaken. He was working, he was repairing a motorbike when the bus and dragged everything. I’m making a list of the motorcycles and the material damage. Now, the removal will happen. I contacted the company’s lawyer and he said he will contact me”, he explained.
Motorbike courier Rafael Souza, 33 years old, was in the workshop at the time of the accident. He was making a purchase and had his motorbike parked in front of the establishment. The bus also dragged the vehicle.
“I don’t know if the driver got sick or slept. He threw all the motorcycles and the guy who was lying there with his back into the air, and this fatal incident happened. I was shopping here. My motorcycle was stopped and he hit it too. The brand new motorcycle , two months old. I was reborn. Thank God, He saved me, but the boy lost his life”, he commented.
When asked about the matter, Rio Ônibus has not yet responded. The space is open for manifestation.
