A 45-year-old GNR agent died yesterday evening in an accident involving the motorbike he was driving and a car at the entrance to Algarve International Autodrome where the MotoGP championships are underway.
Agent João Fernandes was one of 200 GNR agents mobilised to guarantee security at the event.
The accident also resulted in injuries to the driver and passenger of the car.
The passenger appears to have been seriously injured, the driver not so seriously.
A source for Faro’s district command of emergency operations (CDOS) told Lusa that the accident happened on the A22 exit for the autodrome, within the parish of Mexilhoeira Grande, close to Almarjões, just before 8pm.
Nine emergency vehicles attended as well as an INEM helicopter – called to transport agent Fernandes to Portimão Hospital.
Jornal de Noticias explains that initially CDOS was informed the accident had resulted in two serious injuries and one light.
The other injured have been described as a 56-year-old man (believed to have been the driver), and a 50-year-old man (the most seriously injured).
After the accident one of the vehicles involved burst into flames.
President Marcelo and Minister of Internal Administration Eduardo Cabrita have already sent condolences to the dead agent’s family.
Access to the autodrome remained ‘conditioned’ last night and may remain so early this morning, allowing only people through who have valid tickets for MotoGP and can show they have been cleared for the car parking areas.
