Driver arrested preventively after fatal accident in Cuiabá

The driver Hercílio Junio ​​Freitas Cordeiro, 22 years old, had his preventive detention maintained by the courts after passing the custody hearing, this Saturday afternoon (5), in Cuiabá. He is being investigated for the death of delivery man Paulo Messias Simão Costa, aged 23, on August 30th.

At the hearing, judge Francisco Alexandre Ferreira Mendes Neto found that the warrant was carried out regularly and did not identify illegality and Hercílio remains in prison.

The request to revoke preventive detention will be analyzed by the 12th Criminal Court of Cuiabá, responsible for the process.

Hercílio was arrested this Saturday morning. According to delegate Christian Cabral, the arrest warrant was granted by the Court based on investigations conducted by the Traffic Police, which classified the driver's conduct as intentional homicide, since he would have been able to avoid the accidents, but decided to intentionally hit the victims.

In a statement, the defense informed that the driver spontaneously attended the police station, but that he will not comment on the content of the investigation, out of respect for the progress of the case and the victim's family.

Hercílio Junio Freitas Cordeiro, 22 years old, arrested in Cuiabá — Photo: Júlia Carvalho/TVCA

A radar on Avenida Isaac Póvoas, in Cuiabá, recorded the moment when Hercílio was driving the BMW at 177 km per hour minutes before hitting the delivery man's motorcycle. Four days after the accident, he presented himself to Deletran, and also this Friday (4), accompanied by his lawyer. During his testimony, he remained silent and was released on both occasions.

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The investigation

According to the Civil Police, he was initially released, as he was not caught in the act and there was no arrest warrant issued by the Court. The investigation includes witness statements and analysis of security camera footage.

Deletran said it is awaiting the conclusion of the reports and the analysis of the images recorded at the nightclub where the person under investigation was said to have been before the accident.

According to the Military Police, Hercílio's wife said that he had been expelled from a nightclub before the accident. She told the police that her husband had drunk alcohol, became upset, broke a glass inside the establishment and was removed by security guards. Then he drove off in the car. According to the woman, Hercílio does not have a National Driving License (CNH).

Understand the case

After being expelled from the nightclub, Hercílio drove the car and was involved in two accidents in a row.

First beat:

According to the Military Police, the first raid occurred on Avenida Isaac Póvoas, at the intersection with Avenida Presidente Marques, close to a pharmacy. The car hit the back of a motorcycle.

The motorcyclist was injured with cuts to his right ankle and arm. Security camera footage shows the moment the motorcyclist stops at the traffic light and waits. Then, the luxury car appears and hits the back of the motorcycle (see video above).

With the impact, the motorcyclist is thrown upwards, but manages to get up soon after. The images show the driver leaving the scene without providing assistance.

Second beat:

The driver then continued along Avenida Isaac Póvoas, towards Avenida Generoso Ponce.

At the intersection with Rua Joaquim Murtinho, the second crash occurred, when he hit the car driven by Paulo Messias Simão. Paulo worked two jobs to pay for the motorcycle he had bought and which, according to his family, was his dream. He made deliveries via app with the vehicle and was close to paying off the loan when he was hit and died at the scene.

A team from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu) was called, but the doctor confirmed Paulo's death.

Security cameras recorded the moment of the crash on Avenida Isaac Póvoas, in Cuiabá — Photo: Reproduction