Search icon

News

19th Jan 2018

Eight-month-old baby killed and 16 people injured as car hits pedestrians at Copacabana beach in Rio

Conor Heneghan

Police officials confirmed to the AFP news agency that it was not a terrorist attack.

An eight-month-old baby was killed and 16 people were injured after a car hit pedestrians near the famous Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

According to the Globo news network, eyewitnesses said the car went over a bicycle path and across the promenade, crashing into tables and chairs in a café and hitting people in the process at approximately 8.30pm local time.

An eight-month-old baby girl died as a result and her mother is believed to be in a serious condition in hospital. 16 people in total are injured, according to the Municipal Health Department.

Four people are believed to be in a serious condition, including two children and an Australian tourist, while three were discharged from hospital early on Friday.

The driver, a 41-year-old man said he lost control of the car after suffering an epileptic seizure.

Medicines for epilepsy are reported to been found in the car, while a woman accompanying the driver confirmed to police that he had suffered an epileptic seizure.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!