Copacabana beach HORROR: Devastating pictures emerge of moment driver lost control of car
DEVASTATING pictures have emerged in the aftermath of an incident near Copacabana beach in Brazil when a car ploughed into 15 people, killing an eight-month-old baby and shocking innocent bystanders.
A car ploughed into 15 people after the driver lost control at the wheel
The car was said to be driving along the Avenida Atlântica road before unexpectedly veering out of control across the busy bike path and boardwalk to end up on the sand of the beach.
Colonel Angelotti from the local police force confirmed the driver was suspected of suffering an epileptic attack and having a “blackout”.
Thousands of onlookers can be seen surrounding the police cordon placed around the battered black Hyundai car on the sandy beach.
Tourists dressed for a day by the sea were among those caught up in the event, looking on in horror at the aftermath of the scene.
From images, it is clear the front of the car was completely destroyed by the crash.
The car’s bumper was missing, bonnet open, and windscreen smashed.
The front of the car was completely destroyed with the windscreen smashed
The car unexpectedly veered off the road into the pedestrians
At least seven adults and two children were taken to a hospital.
Photos taken at the beach show those injured received treatment at the scene.
One man was lying on the pavement in a spinal board before being taken to a hospital.
One man was placed on a spinal board on the floor
Multiple victims were taken to hospital for treatment
Meanwhile, another man could be seen sitting on a plastic chair clutching their young child and being attended to by a first responder.
In another picture, a pram can be seen discarded amongst the panic.
Other items such as a pair of flip flops and carrier bags were also abandoned.
Children were among the victims from the crash
Items such as a pram and flip flops were abandoned in the chaos
The authorities attended the accident just minutes after it happened.
Colonel Angelotti said when they arrived at the scene there was a lot of aggression being directed at the driver by bystanders.
He said: “We got there in time to keep him from being lynched.”
Police were at the scene in minutes
Police arrived just in time to stop the driver being attacked
Several police officers can be seen in images protecting the scene of the accident to make sure that the onlooking members of the public did not break the cordon.
Accountant Magno Morais, 35, who witnessed the horror crash said confirmed the angry reaction from the immediate crowd.
He said: "It was shocking, we do not have a reaction at a time like this.
“People wanted to lynch the driver, but police at the scene prevented it. There were a lot of people run down.”