Argentine football star under investigation after ‘fatally hitting motorcyclist and failing breathalyser test’
ARGENTINE footballer Rodrigo Garro is under investigation following a fatal collision with a motorcyclist, according to reports.
Garro, who turned 27 today, stars for Brazilian club Corinthians.
The midfielder is under investigation by police after fatally hitting a 30-year-old motorcyclist in General Pico, La Pampa Province, Argentina.
According to local reports, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
At around 5am, the motorcyclist is said to have collided with a truck being driven by Garro at the intersection of Streets 300 and 108 with both vehicle’s travelling in opposite directions.
Eyewitnesses said both vehicles were travelling along street 300 when the truck turned onto street 108.
Garro allegedly failed a subsequent breathalyser test – reportedly having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5 grams – following the incident and was detained by police, but has since been released.
Both Garro and his passenger, former team-mate Facundo Castelli, were said to have been unharmed in the collision.
The case has been classified as “involuntary manslaughter”.
Prosecutor Francisco Cuenca has said authorities are currently analysing the evidence collected from the scene.
As quoted by footboom1, Cuenca said: “Right now, the classification would be involuntary manslaughter.
“We need to wait for the results of the forensic analysis to determine how we proceed from here.”
The victim’s body has been taken to the morgue for autopsy while further findings from the forensic examination are awaited.
After giving his testimony on the events of the incident, Garro was released by police.
Corinthians released a statement on the investigation.
It read: “In the early hours of this Saturday (04), midfielder Rodrigo Garro was involved in an accident in La Pampa, Argentina, which, unfortunately, resulted in a fatal victim.
“Garro gave his first statements, was released and is now at home.
“Football executive Fabinho Soldado and legal affairs director Vinicius Cascone have contacted the athlete’s lawyers and family and will continue to contact them for more information.
“The club is following the investigations and will wait for them to be concluded before returning to discuss the case.
“Corinthians expresses its solidarity with the victim and his family.”
Garro made 36 appearances in the Brazilian Serie A last season, scoring 10 goals and adding 10 assists – the most in the division – as Corinthians finished seventh in the league table.