RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (JTA) — A Jewish soccer fan set to visit Israel was killed while celebrating his team’s victory in the Brazilian championship.
Flavio Seade, 26, was run over Sunday by a truck driver who tried to detour around the enthusiastic crowd of thousands of Flamengo supporters partying along the elegant streets of Leblon, the wealthiest neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro.
The driver, who works for a supermarket chain, accelerated in order to avoid the crowd when he hit Seade.
Seade, who grew up in a Jewish children’s home, was scheduled to visit Israel next month on a Taglit-Birthright trip.
With some 35 million supporters, Flamengo is considered the largest soccer team in Brazil. It won the annual championship for the first time in 17 years.
