Security camera footage shows a different dynamic from initial accounts in the accident that killed geographer Emanoelle Martins Guedes de Farias, 40, and her son Francisco Farias Antunes, 9, hit by a bus on Rua Conde de Bonfim in Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, on Monday (30). Witnesses and the bus driver blamed a black car, but the video indicates the bus came very close to the electric bicycle after changing lanes. Civil Police are investigating the case.
The accident happened around 13:15 on Monday (30) on Rua Conde de Bonfim, one of Tijuca's busiest streets. Emanoelle and her son, known as Chico, were riding an electric bicycle in the left lane when the line 606 bus shifted from right to left, apparently to avoid a parked taxi. The vehicle passed very close to the victims, who fell onto the asphalt seconds later.
Footage released on Tuesday (31) shows a dark car behind the bus the entire time, without approaching the bicycle. The car braked after the accident and only passed the scene four minutes later, at 13:19. Witnesses and the bus driver had initially claimed the black car cut off the bicycle, but the cameras do not confirm this.
Emanoelle died at the scene, and Chico was taken by SAMU but did not survive en route to Hospital do Andaraí. Civil Police registered the case at the 19th Precinct (Tijuca), conducted forensics, and are taking depositions. Rio Ônibus said the case is being handled by its legal department.
Chico, a student at Colégio Pedro 2º and son of comedian Vinicius Cacofonias, will be waked on Wednesday (1st) at 9am at Cemitério do Caju. His mother graduated from UFRJ and researched territorial conflicts in South America. The case comes amid Rio's e-bike regulations since 2024, and Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere announced plans for stricter rules.
On social media, Vinicius wrote: “Today my son, Chico Farias Antunes, died in a traffic accident. It is the saddest day of my life. But we lived almost 10 very happy years.”
