Driver hit and ran over cyclist, did not stop to help, dropped passenger off at hotel and tried to flee in a TVDE (Uber-type) vehicle
A 20-year-old Brazilian cyclist was killed in a hit-and-run accident on the EN270 municipal road in Boliqueime, Loulé in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The young man was hit and then run over at around 3.30am by a taxi whose driver did not stop to help.
Inside the taxi was a passenger who had requested a taxi to take him from Lisbon Airport to a hotel in the Algarve.
Despite the incident, the taxi driver still dropped off the passenger at the hotel, having then had his taxi towed due to the damage caused and called a TVDE (Uber-type) car to return to Lisbon.
The victim was already dead by the time he was found by another driver, who called the 112 national emergency number.
GNR police were able to track down the tow truck which was transporting the taxi, having confirmed that it was the taxi involved in the incident.
“It had marks which were compatible with the crash and it also coincided with the traces left at the scene,” said GNR Faro spokesperson António Ramos.
Thanks to the information provided by the tow truck driver, GNR police were able to intercept the TVDE car which was transporting the taxi driver at the A2 motorway toll booths in Paderne.
The taxi driver was arrested, named an ‘arguido’ (official suspect) and was due to undergo blood tests to check if he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The passenger who was inside the taxi was also due to be heard by authorities. So far, it is unclear whether the passenger tried to alert authorities or ask the taxi driver to stop and check on the young man.
