Chinese Businessman Arrested for Drunk Driving Fatally Striking Sanitation Worker in São Paulo

A 19-year-old sanitation worker, Diego Rafael da Silva, was fatally struck by a car in the Barra Funda neighborhood of São Paulo on Sunday, November 26th. The driver, identified as 53-year-old Chinese businessman Guofang Huang, exhibited clear signs of intoxication and had difficulty standing when approached by police. The breathalyzer test revealed an alcohol concentration of 0.73 mg/L, more than double the legal limit of 0.34 mg/L that constitutes a traffic crime. Huang initially left the scene but returned minutes later after being pursued by a motorcyclist. He was reportedly assisted out of his vehicle by fellow sanitation workers and taken to a nearby building to avoid public anger. The victim, Diego Rafael da Silva, was collecting containers at the rear of a parked and signaled sanitation truck when he was hit. He received initial aid from a passing doctor and later from emergency services but succumbed to his injuries. The São Paulo Justice system converted Huang's arrest into preventive detention during a custody hearing on Monday, November 27th, meaning he will remain in custody during the investigation. The Civil Police are investigating the incident as a homicide with intent, and the case is being handled by the 23rd District Police. The City of São Paulo expressed solidarity with the victim's family and colleagues.