Alleged accident is being investigated as a femicide of an elderly woman

Manaus, Brazil – An incident in the Petrópolis neighborhood, in the southern area of ​​Manaus, has generated commotion and debate about the circumstances surrounding the hit-and-run of Elizabeth Azevedo de Queiroz, 68 years old. The event, which initially appeared to be a traffic accident, is now being investigated as a possible femicide, after the appearance of images from security cameras.

The tragedy occurred on the night of Wednesday, July 24, when Elizabeth was trying to cross Bernardo Michiles Street and was hit by a white Volkswagen Voyage driven by João Lopes Batista, 45.

In the video, the vehicle can be seen stopping, apparently to allow the elderly woman to pass. However, when Elizabeth begins to cross, the driver suddenly accelerates and runs her over.

The images captured show Elizabeth clearly frightened, begging not to be run over, but her pleas were ignored by the driver. This fact has led the authorities of the Specialized Police Station for Homicides and Kidnappings (DEHS) to reexamine the case under the premise that it could be an intentional act.

In addition to the visual material, several witnesses at the scene claim that the accident was deliberate. They report that Elizabeth was heading to church at the time of the incident. Military police from the Third Community Interactive Company (Cicom) quickly arrived at the scene, securing the area until the arrival of forensic experts.

João Lopes Batista was arrested at the scene and remains in custody while investigations continue. Delegate Daniel Vezzani, in charge of the investigation, has been gathering information and reviewing security footage with the aim of clarifying the motives behind the hit-and-run.