Gari Diego Rafael da Silva killed by drunk driver sparks São Paulo waste‑collection protest

On 26 July 2024, 19‑year‑old garbage collector Diego Rafael da Silva was fatally struck by a vehicle in the Barra Funda neighbourhood of São Paulo while performing his duties. The driver, 53‑year‑old Chinese businessman Guofang Huang, recorded a blood‑alcohol level of 0.73 mg/L (well above the legal limit) and was arrested for homicide with eventual intent. He was initially held in the 7th Police District (Lapa) and later transferred to the Guarulhos provisional detention centre.

The death prompted an immediate suspension of night‑time waste collection in several northern and western districts of the city, as workers of the Loga collection firm halted services in protest. The company announced a gradual resumption of normal collection between 27 and 29 July. The incident has drawn public attention to recurring drunk‑driving fatalities in Brazil and the safety of sanitation workers.

Family members of Diego, who left a newborn daughter and a pregnant wife, have called for justice. Legal proceedings continue, with Huang’s custody converted to preventive detention and additional cautions imposed on the arrested driver.