São Paulo Motorist Drove Off With Cyclist’s Severed Arm

After a road collision in Brazil, a motorist drove off with a cyclist's severed arm. The driver, a 22-year-old student, later turned himself in to authorities and stated that he dumped the severed arm in a stream. The arm has yet to be recovered by authorities, but doctors believe that it may be able to be reattached.

The injured cyclist was injured on his way to work and is in stable condition in the hospital. The accident occurred on Sunday morning on Avenida Paulista, one of São Paulo's busiest streets.

The driver of the vehicle will be charged with attempted murder and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Although the police are finding it difficult to find a suitable charge for his disposable of the severed arm because the driver stated the arm fell into the car after the collision.

The motorist's lawyer, Cassio Paoletti, has told BBC Brazil he denies the attempted murder accusation and that his client did not stop for fear of the reactions of witnesses.

"If he had stayed, they would have killed the boy. For instance, the police station was surrounded by hundreds of people who verbally abused and threw cans at my client's father, who's a 60-year-old man," Mr. Paoletti said.

Police reported that the search for the arm was still underway, the police also stated that the stream has "dirty, murky waters, so it might be difficult to find it."

The issue of cyclists' safety has been under scrutiny for some time in São Paulo. A number of cyclists gathered outside the police district where the driver was being questioned to protest. Cycle activists have been campaigning for more safety on the city's streets for months.