Motorcycle crash kills police officer on BR-020 in Caucaia, Brazil.

NEWS:

A 35-year-old military police officer was killed in a motorcycle crash involving a car on BR-020 in Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil, on Sunday morning, May 24, 2026. Two people traveling in the car suffered serious injuries.

The victim was identified as Rafael de Oliveira Donato, a corporal with the Ceará Military Police who was known as Corporal Donato. He died at the scene of the collision, near kilometer 395 of the federal highway.

Initial reports identified two motorcycles and a car as involved in the accident, which occurred in the Tucunduba area of Caucaia, part of the Greater Fortaleza metropolitan area. Subsequent coverage placed the collision near Minguaú and identified Donato's motorcycle as the one that struck the side of the car. The precise involvement of the second motorcycle was not established in those accounts.

Video footage of the accident records the collision between the motorcycle and the car. Separate images captured at the scene show the car's driver bleeding from his face following the impact.

Two people seriously injured in the collision

According to information provided by Brazil's Federal Highway Police (PRF), the crash resulted in three casualties, including the officer who died.

The car was carrying two people. Its driver, a 44-year-old man, and another occupant whose identity was not disclosed were injured and transported by the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU).

The PRF classified both survivors' injuries as serious but did not provide additional information about their medical conditions or the hospitals where they were taken.

Federal Highway Police officers, emergency medical personnel and forensic investigators from the Ceará State Forensic Authority (PEFOCE) responded to the accident.

Traffic on BR-020 was temporarily restricted while emergency teams attended to the victims and authorities examined the scene. Vehicles initially moved through the affected section under an alternating traffic system.

The PRF reported that the highway was completely closed for approximately 12 minutes to allow the removal of the vehicles involved. Normal traffic resumed after the emergency procedures were completed.

The precise circumstances leading to the collision had not been established in the initial police findings. No conclusive determination of responsibility was provided in the subsequent accounts.

Police department confirms officer's death

The Ceará Military Police confirmed Donato's identity and released a statement following his death.

According to the department, he joined the force on April 14, 2015, and was assigned to the 1st Company of the 20th Military Police Battalion.

Captain Marcos, commander of Donato's unit, paid tribute to the officer and spoke about his family. He described Donato as a married father of a young daughter who had also lost his own father shortly before the accident.

The Association of Security Professionals (APS) also issued a tribute, remembering Donato as a dedicated officer, husband and father.

The Ceará Military Police expressed condolences to his relatives and colleagues and said the department had made its institutional resources available to support his family.

News story written by DarkGore.

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