Tiago Rodrigues, Portugal's national triathlon champion in the 20-24 age group, was hit by a car on Tuesday in Spain and left in serious condition. He underwent emergency surgery at the hospital in Zamora.
The 23-year-old triathlete, who is from Bragança and holds the rank of second lieutenant in the Portuguese Army, was training across the border in the town of Camarzana de Tera at the time. The crash happened on the road connecting Benavente and Santiago de Compostela.
Rodrigues was taken to hospital with suspected fractures to his left collarbone and right wrist, multiple abrasions, and a deep cut to his neck that caused significant blood loss.
Driver under influence of cocaine, police say
According to a report from the Spanish police, the driver, a 24-year-old woman, was under the influence of drugs, specifically cocaine, at the time of the crash. Police said she failed to stop at a mandatory stop sign and struck the Portuguese athlete with her car, throwing him against another vehicle.
National champion since June
Rodrigues is a second lieutenant in the Portuguese Army and won the national triathlon title in the 20-24 age group in June, in Coimbra.
