A 51-year-old Portuguese emigrant died last Friday following a traffic accident in Bourg-Saint-Pierre, in the Swiss canton of Valais.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Valais cantonal police reported that an accident occurred where “a motorcyclist lost his life” and “a second motorcyclist was seriously injured.”
“Shortly after 8:00 p.m., two motorcyclists were traveling on the Grand-Saint-Bernard road towards Bourg-Saint-Pierre. Shortly before reaching the Grand-Saint-Bernard tunnel, they fell on the road and skidded into the La Dranse river,” the note stated.
According to the police, “the motorcycles caught fire” and, “despite resuscitation attempts, one of them died at the scene.”
At the time of the release of the initial statement, the police indicated that the identification of the deceased was “ongoing.” By Thursday, it was confirmed that “the deceased motorcyclist has been identified” as “a 51-year-old Portuguese citizen.”
The other motorcyclist involved in the accident is a Swiss citizen, also aged 51, who sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to the hospital in Sion.
The Public Ministry has launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.
According to the newspaper O Minho, the emigrant was identified as Jorge Paulo de Sousa Senra, a native of the Várzea parish in the Barcelos municipality. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday, August 16, at the Braga Crematorium Complex.
