Traffic on the Rodoanelle Mario Cobas was cleared at around 10:10 a.m. this Wednesday (12th) after being blocked for five hours by a truck carrying a fake bomb. However, the traffic jam was 14 km long in both directions as of 11:30 a.m.
According to SPMar, the company that manages the road, congestion is occurring between the inner lanes closest to the center of São Paulo, between 58 km and 44 km. In addition, there was a 14km traffic jam on the outside lanes, from 30km to 44km.
A trailer carrying a fake explosive device completely blocked the Rodoanelle lane at the 44 km mark towards the Presidente Dutra motorway, near Itapecerica da Serra in the São Paulo metropolitan area.
The driver spent more than four hours with his hands tied and a fake bomb placed next to the passenger seat. He was rescued at 9:15 a.m. by rescue workers from SPMar, the concession company that manages Rodoanelle.
Police said the driver said he had been kidnapped and that the suspects forced him to cross the truck on the road.
Military police, highway police and fire departments were on the scene. Agents from the Gate (Special Tactical Action Group) arrived at around 8:15 a.m. aboard the Prime Minister’s Agia helicopter.
Police officers wearing special clothing meant to protect the man from explosions approached the vehicle at 9:15 a.m., spoke to the driver and removed him from the vehicle. The driver passed out due to extreme stress and was carried away on a stretcher by police, where he was treated by doctors at the dealership. He was taken to Itapecerica da Serra General Hospital.
Gate officials entered the truck’s cabin and ruled out the possibility of an explosive device.
The traffic blockage in Rodoaneru affected traffic in the capital, São Paulo, with more than 640 kilometers of traffic jams recorded this morning. Around 11 a.m., traffic jams of 460 km were recorded in the city.
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