A retired judge allegedly ran over a cyclist while driving with a naked woman on his lap after leaving a nightclub.
Fernando Augusto Fontes Rodrigues Júnior had reportedly just left the venue with the woman – believed to be a sex worker – and was stopped at a roundabout when she tried to climb onto his lap.
At that moment, he stepped on the accelerator and the pickup truck suddenly lurched into the road.
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Thais Bonatti, who happened to be cycling past, was struck by the vehicle on Thursday morning (24 Jul).
The 30-year-old suffered multiple traumatic injuries, including fractures to her pelvis and a traumatic brain injury.
She was rushed to a hospital in Araçatuba, Brazil, in critical condition and underwent two surgeries that day.
Bonatti reportedly suffered two cardiac arrests during the first operation, as reported by Need To Know.
Tragically, she died of her injuries on Saturday (26 Jul).
When officers arrived at the scene, Rodrigues Júnior reportedly had slurred speech, appeared unsteady on his feet, and smelled strongly of alcohol.
By that point, the woman had already dressed and left the scene.
He was taken to the police station and booked on suspicion of causing bodily injury by dangerous driving.
He was granted bail on Friday (25 Jul) after providing a surety of 40,000 BRL (£5,344).
Rodrigues Júnior, 61, is a registered lawyer with the São Paulo Bar Association and is currently licensed to practise law across Brazil – except in Araçatuba, where he previously served as a civil court judge.
His legal team issued a statement on Saturday, saying: “Fernando’s family express their deepest condolences and solidarity with the victim’s loved ones and reaffirm their full respect for their pain and grief.
“Since the incident, they have been offering support to the victim’s family.
“Due to the confidentiality of the investigation, he is legally barred from giving interviews or making public statements.
“His legal team emphasises that this silence is not only a legal obligation but also a sign of respect.”
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