Chile international Arturo Vidal was arrested on Tuesday after having a car crash while driving under the influence of alcohol, a Chilean police spokesperson confirmed. The Juventus star wrote off his red Ferrari on a motorway 25 kilometres from Santiago while he was on his way back to his national team’s Copa América camp after enjoying the afternoon off at a casino.
Police chief Ricardo González told reporters that the midfielder had been driving the car, in which his wife was also travelling, and that he had failed a breath test. “He is in custody and will appear in court tomorrow [Wednesday]”, González stated.
The accident happened when Vidal’s Ferrari collided with another car, although fortunately no one was seriously harmed. “The driver of the red vehicle suffered minor injuries and his passenger sustained moderately serious injuries. Both drivers were given breathalyser tests, which showed that the driver of the red vehicle was under the influence of alcohol”, the police revealed.
The player and his wife were taken to hospital in Buin, on the outskirts of Santiago, to receive treatment. According to witnesses, both were able to walk into the hospital without assistance.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, although Vidal has insisted that he wasn’t to blame. “Today I was in a traffic accident. It wasn’t my fault, I am well, my family are well, and thanks for everything”, the 28-year-old said in a video posted on his Twitter account.
Arturo Vidal’s accident in pictures
