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Alfredo Morelos had ‘five beers’ in system during 9am horror crash on way to training
Read on to find out the star’s possible punishments
BOOZED-up Alfredo Morelos was arrested at 9am with the equivalent of five beers in his system after ploughing his car into a motorcyclist on his way to training.
Shocking pictures showed the crash victim’s wrecked bike wedged under the former Rangers striker’s heavily damaged Chevrolet following the smash on Wednesday morning.
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The controversial ex-Ibrox hero, seen wearing a white Gucci polo top, shorts and beige cap, was quizzed by cops after failing a breathalyser test at the scene.
Police said he had “level two” intoxication — understood to be the equivalent of five beers or more than three rums.
It is understood Morelos hit the biker after pulling into the opposite lane to pass a van while travelling to Colombian side Atlético Nacional’s training ground.
The 28-year-old’s teammate Sebastián Guzmán, 27, reportedly helped at the scene after coming across the crash while travelling to work on the outskirts of Medellin, Antioquia.
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Harrowing footage shared online showed the injured biker lying at the side of the busy road as onlookers rushed to assist.
The crash victim, named by cops yesterday as Sebastian Guillermo Davila Valderrama, suffered broken limbs and abdominal injuries.
He was raced to nearby San Vicente Fundación Hospital and underwent emergency surgery.
His condition was described as “positive” but he remained under close observation last night.
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Colombia international forward Morelos was not injured.
He faces a £4,100 fine, plus community service, driving licence suspension and a potential compensation payout.
Ex-Rangers star Alfredo Morelos scores his first goal from open play for Santos
In a statement, local traffic cops said: “Alfredo Jose Morelos Aviles, a forward for the Atlético Nacional club, was arrested.
“He was driving a pick-up truck, causing a traffic accident while driving under the influence of alcohol (Grade 2), resulting in personal injuries to Sebastian Guillermo Davila Valderrama.”
It is understood Morelos’ employers earlier denied claims he was over the limit before police confirmed the results.
But he was dropped from the Medellin-based outfit’s squad for last night's Copa Colombia quarter-final second leg against Jaguares de Cordoba.
Last night lawyer Andrés Stiven Gómez, of Colombian firm Territorio Legal, told local news outlet MiOriente of the star’s possible punishments.
He said: “Following the arrest of Alfredo Morelos, who was caught driving his vehicle under the influence at level two, he will face several proceedings.
“One is a contraventional process, where his driving licence could be suspended for up to five years.
“He will have to complete 40 hours of community service, and his vehicle will be impounded for six days.”
STRIKER'S OFF-PITCH DRAMA
BY DAVID ROBSON
HOT-TEMPERED Alfredo Morelos was never far from controversy during his time in Scotland.
The ace, Rangers’ most red-carded player of all time, made headlines off the field in January 2020.
He called cops when he found a man “tampering” with his £150,000 car, chasing the suspect while filming him on his phone.
The striker said he found the male lurking underneath the Lamborghini which Police Scotland removed for “examination”.
Morelos believed he had been trying to cut the brakes.
But a man later turned himself in, telling cops he was a private detective hired to keep watch on the star’s car by his then-pregnant wife Yesenia.
Just months earlier, in August 2019, we told how the footballer was at the centre of a “cheating” storm after being filmed kissing a Colombian beauty queen.
Marian Cardenas claimed she began a relationship with the Ibrox hero after he contacted her online — and had no idea he was hitched.
Morelos and Yesenia married in 2016 and she moved to Glasgow with him when he signed for Rangers in 2017.
Mum-of-two Cardenas spoke out after a video of her kiss with Morelos was leaked online, sparking outrage in their homeland.
She said: “It first started as a friendship and then became a relationship.
“I didn’t know he was married.”
On the pitch, Morelos was given his marching orders eight times during his six-year stint with the club.
Mr Stiven added: “From a criminal perspective, he will have to answer for the offence of aggravated negligent bodily harm for driving a motor and additionally for being under the influence.
“From the victim’s perspective, they may eventually seek full compensation which could lead to a civil liability process to ensure the damages caused to the victim in the traffic accident are compensated.”
Morelos — nicknamed El Bufalo by Rangers supporters — returned to Colombia after eight years away from his homeland in July after agreeing a six-month loan deal with Atlético Nacional.
It brought the curtain down on a nightmare stint at Santos, which ended with the famous Brazilian top-flight side’s first relegation in decades.
He previously scored 124 goals in 269 games at Ibrox after signing from HJK Helsinki in 2017.
The controversial hitman went on to become the Glasgow giants’ all-time record goalscorer in European competitions with 29 strikes.
He reportedly agreed a £16million switch to French side Lille in 2020 but the move failed to materialise.
But he left last year on a free transfer after his contract expired. Morelos only made 20 appearances for Santos before returning to his homeland in the summer.
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It was viewed as a huge coup for Atlético Nacional following his goal-scoring exploits with the Scottish Premiership giants.
He was recently dubbed Colombia’s highest-valued player ahead of the likes of former Chelsea and Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao and Colombia international goalkeeper David Ospina.