São Paulo defender is arrested on suspicion of running over and killing an 84-year-old man in SP

A witness reported to the Civil Police that he was driving along Alameda Tocantins, just before 10pm, when he saw two vehicles speeding down Alameda Rio Negro towards the Presidente Castelo Branco highway. Upon entering Alameda Rio Negro, he saw the body of a person, got out of the car and helped the elderly man.

According to the witness, Nicolas Bosshardt was the one who drove one of the cars and ran over the victim. He reversed and returned to the scene.

The player was in a black BMW 220 MSP, model 2026, valued at around R$330,000. Ryan Francisco, another São Paulo athlete, would be in the other car.

The witness claimed to have asked the two if they were competing in a race, as they were traveling at high speed. According to the report, both confirmed that they were speeding, but said that they had already slowed down in the section where the collision occurred, denying that there was a race.

The victim, identified as Paulo Rodrigues, died in hospital.

In testimony, Nicolas said he was with Ryan Francisco and another friend in a restaurant and denied having any drinks. According to him, on the way back home, he was traveling in the left lane when he saw a person running on the right side, towards the car, and swerved to the left.

According to the player, he noticed that the car's right rear view mirror was broken, reversed and returned to the scene of the crash, from where he called the Military Police and the Fire Department. Nicolas stated that Ryan drove a black Audi A3, and the other friend, a white Honda Civic.

He also said that his cell phone had an application installed that records location, route and speed of travel. According to the app, according to the player, his speed was 50 km/h. He denied being in a split.

For delegate Leonardo Rocha Vieira, responsible for the case, the elements gathered so far - the driver's statement, the witness's report and the videos analyzed - indicate that Nicolas and his friends were traveling at a speed incompatible with the road, whose limit is 40 km/h.

Even so, the delegate asked for Nicolas' preventive detention to be ordered, but the player was released after a custody hearing this Tuesday (4).

The Court of Justice stated that the player was released on the condition that he attends the forum every month, keeps his address updated with the competent court and does not leave the city for more than eight days without prior communication.

"In addition, the suspension of the right to drive or prohibition on obtaining a driving license was ordered," the court said.

In a statement, São Paulo Futebol Clube reported that, after leaving a shopping mall, athlete Nicolas was involved in a traffic accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian.

"Nicolas remained at the scene providing assistance and calling the rescue service. He later went to the police station to provide the necessary clarifications. It was found that the athlete had not consumed alcohol and that his National Driving License was in good standing", says the statement.

The club added that Nicolas "gave a statement to the competent authorities and was assured of the right to respond to the procedure in freedom".

São Paulo stated that it regrets the victim's death and said that it will continue to monitor the case through its legal department.