A businessman has been fined and had his driving licence suspended after a reckless stunt saw his pickup truck narrowly avoid a head-on collision as it flew over a buggy carrying tourists on a protected beach.
The incident, which saw the driver briefly lose consciousness after the vehicle landed heavily, occurred on 17th May at Canoa Quebrada beach in the municipality of Aracati, in the Brazilian state of Ceara.
Supermarket chain owner Valecio Nogueira Granjeiro was identified as the driver of the black 4x4 pickup that launched off a dune at high speed, soaring over a stationary yellow buggy with passengers inside.
The vehicle landed heavily, damaging all four tyres and deploying the airbags.
Witnesses reported that Granjeiro lost consciousness upon impact and was initially unresponsive.
He was treated at a local emergency unit before being transferred to a private hospital, where he is recovering.
Following the incident, Granjeiro was hit with criminal charges for performing a dangerous manoeuvre.
He was fined BRL 2,934 (GBP 380) and had his driving licence suspended by the Aracati Municipal Traffic Department (Demutran).
The pickup truck was seized by the authorities and is currently under the custody of the Municipal Department of Public Security and Order.
The stunt, which was filmed and widely shared on social media, drew sharp criticism from local officials.
Aracati Mayor Roberta de Bismarck condemned the act as "irresponsible and unacceptable" and mobilised police and municipal guards to investigate.
Ceara's Secretary of Tourism, Eduardo Bismarck, stated that romanticising such behaviour is "disrespectful and dangerous," emphasising that it is not a form of entertainment.
The Civil Police have launched an investigation into potential environmental crimes, as the stunt took place in a protected natural area.
Only authorised buggy drivers are permitted to operate vehicles on the dunes for tourism purposes.
Passengers in the buggy, including a couple visiting from out of town, were unharmed but shaken by the incident.
One passenger noted that they had paused to take photos, which delayed their descent and possibly prevented a more serious accident.
(MJ Leidig/newsX)