Drunk Driver in Acre Sentenced to Over 14 Years for Fatal Motorcycle Collision

Francisco Alves Moreira da Silva has been sentenced to over 14 years in prison for a fatal incident in Acre that occurred in December 2023. He was found guilty of striking and killing motorcyclist Welisson Araujo dos Santos, injuring Dhayvid da Silva Jesus, and driving under the influence. The collision took place in Vila do Incra, within the municipality of Porto Acre. Witnesses at the time reported Moreira da Silva speaking incoherently and appearing intoxicated inside his vehicle. The jury in Porto Acre's Judicial District delivered the verdict on Friday, May 17th, leading to the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant for Moreira da Silva to begin serving his sentence. The prosecution argued that Moreira da Silva knowingly risked causing a death by driving drunk, with a suspended license, and disregarding traffic rules. This argument was accepted by the court and affirmed by the jury. At the time of the accident, Moreira da Silva, then 59, drove through an intersection, striking the motorcycle carrying Araujo dos Santos and Jesus. Araujo dos Santos sustained critical injuries and later died at the hospital, while Jesus was unharmed. Police noted signs of intoxication and Moreira da Silva's refusal to take a breathalyzer test, which also revealed his driver's license was suspended.