A 48-year-old man was arrested this Sunday morning (24) after starring in a cinematic chase through the streets of São Paulo. The episode began on Marginal Tietê, near Barra Funda, West Zone, when the driver fled a police blockade, and only ended in the Jardins neighborhood, South Zone.
The escape, which lasted around 30 minutes, involved dozens of vehicles and was marked by high-risk scenes, with the suspect driving the wrong way, invading sidewalks and busy intersections. Nobody was injured.
Images recorded by police officers’ body cameras show the vehicle advancing over flowerbeds and “islands” on the roads, disregarding traffic lights and almost colliding with other cars.
According to the Military Police (PM), at one point, the suspect invaded the route of a street race in Ibirapuera Park, forcing pedestrians and athletes to hurriedly get out of the way to avoid being run over.
Blitz against drunk drivers
According to the PM, the chase began when the man decided not to respect the order to stop during a checkpoint against drunk drivers when the man’s vehicle, a red Fiat Uno, was approached. The breathalyzer test indicated the presence of alcohol and he decided to flee, giving rise to the chase.
The images also show the frantic movement of vehicles, which caught the attention of residents and drivers. The chaotic route included some of the city’s main roads, such as Avenida Paulista, Avenida Brasil and Marginal Tietê.
The operation mobilized teams from several battalions, including the 2nd Traffic Police Battalion, BAEP, Shock Battalion and air support from the Águia helicopter, which helped coordinate actions on the ground.
End of the chase
The chase only ended when the vehicles surrounded the Fiat Uno in a narrow street, blocking the escape route. After being detained, he was again subjected to a breathalyzer test, which registered 0.73 mg/L of alcohol, almost double the limit allowed by law – and which would have resulted in him being issued a traffic fine.
According to the PM, the man, who showed clear signs of drunkenness, was arrested in the act and taken to the 14th Police District, where he was charged with drunk driving and disobedience.
*Collaborated with Rafael Saldanha
This content was originally published in Escape and chaos: drunk driver mobilizes dozens of vehicles in pursuit of SP on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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