AN "OUT of control" car killed a baby and injured 17 people when it ploughed into a packed pedestrian area on Copacabana Beach in Brazil, leaving bystanders shocked and wanting to “lynch” the driver, police claim.
Police revealed an eight-month old baby died at the scene.
At least 17 people were hit by the out of control car.
The driver reportedly tried to escape but was then arrested by the police.
Colonel Angelotti from the local police force has confirmed the driver is suspected of having a “blackout” because of epilepsy. The police chief said a box of medicine was found in his car.
The black Hyundai car was said to be driving along the Avenida Atlântica road before unexpectedly crossing the bike path and boardwalk to end up on the sand of the beach.
At least seven adults and two children have been taken to a hospital.
Colonel Angelotti said: “My staff did not notice evidence of drunkenness, but he will undergo tests at the Medical-Legal Institute.”
When the police arrived on the scene they revealed that there was a lot of aggression being directed at the driver by bystanders.
The Colonel added: “We got there in time to keep him from being lynched.”
Accountant Magno Morais, 35, who witnessed the horror crash said confirmed the angry reaction from the immediate crowd.
He said: "It was shocking, we do not have a reaction at a time like this.
“People wanted to lynch the driver, but police at the scene prevented it. There were a lot of people run down.”
Local news has reported that the driver was involved in another incident two years ago when a motorcycle he was riding hit the back of a van.
He was treated by doctors from a local hospital at the time.
Speaking to local media, Daria Lasmar, 40, who helped try to save the baby that died at the scene, said medical staff spent 50 minutes trying to resuscitate the child.
She said: “I was crossing the signal.
“When I put my foot on the boardwalk, the car raided and ran over several people. I approached the mother, she was crying a lot, saying that she had a lot of pain in her leg.
“She was saying ‘my baby’ and I asked if she was pregnant and she just repeated it.
“The grandmother appeared with the baby, but she was already fainting.
“She took the baby and the city guards cleared the way and took us in the car. Unfortunately, she died.
“They did the entire resuscitation procedure, it was 50 minutes, but she had cardiac arrest and then died.”