Widow recalls newlywed being run over in Rio: “faster than the speed of light”

The wife of physiotherapist Fábio Toshiro Kikuta, 41, who died on July 13 after being run over on an avenue in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro, remembers the accident that took her husband’s life.

In an interview with Fantasticfrom TV Globo, shown this Sunday (28), Bruna Villarinho says that the moment in which the vehicle hits Fábio was very “fast” and, when she realized, her husband “was already in the air”.

“We left the hotel and saw that the road was quiet. We crossed the first lane. I was on the side and didn’t see anything different. I only really saw it when, out of nowhere, faster than the speed of light, that car (came). And when I looked, it was up there, already in the air. Then I started screaming,” Bruna recalls, moved.

The couple had gotten married hours earlier and had a trip planned for July 15 to celebrate their honeymoon. They were passing through Rio de Janeiro.

Bruna and Fábio arrived at the hotel, located on Avenida Lúcio Costa, left their bags and went for a walk on the beach. According to information from witnesses, they were crossing the road at around 11:30 pm when the accident happened.

“A young man started to turn around and give her cardiac massage. I sat next to him, saying: ‘Save my husband, for the love of God. We just got married. Save him.’ The fireman came and said: ‘Madam, I’m sorry, but it’s not possible anymore.’ Then the world fell apart. Everything opened up under your feet. And I was completely disoriented,” she recalls.

Witnesses said the vehicle was speeding and the driver left the scene without providing assistance. Fábio died at the scene. “I only saw this white car. From the noise of acceleration, I could tell it was a very powerful car. I saw it skid slightly… a little, but then it took off again,” Bruna told Fantastic.

“It was very fast, very sudden. He was a little in front of me, but it was so fast that I didn’t even see him when the car hit him,” adds the widow.

According to the police, the car was driven by Vitor Vieira, an influencer who practices freestyle, an activity focused on juggling and other maneuvers with a soccer ball.

The Civil Police have not yet located Vieira, who has been on the run since the accident. The car he was driving was found and, according to the investigation, had wine stains and broken glasses inside and outside the vehicle. The report was unable to locate Vieira’s defense.

According to the investigation, Vieira was accompanied by five women, who gave statements. They told the authorities that they did not see the driver consuming alcohol or other drugs.

Fábio and Bruna had been together for six years and for at least two years they had been planning their wedding, which took place on July 13, hours before the accident. The funeral took place two days later, on the 15th, the same day the couple was due to leave for their honeymoon.