A blow for the Chilean national team and indeed for the 2015 Copa America after Arturo Vidal was detained after being involved in an accident on the outskirts of Santiago de Chile at 2200 (local time) on Tuesday. Police later confirmed that the player was driving under the influence of alcohol as he made his way back from the Chilean national, Juan Pinto Durán team base on the outskirts of the Chilean capital.
The accident took place on the Ruta 5 south motorway and the impact was on the left side of the red Ferrari that Vidal was driving. He was taken with his wife, Matía Teresa Matus to Buin hospital where later director, Sergio Aguilera confirmed that Vidal suffered minor neck injuries whilst his wife suffered a dislocated right elbow and was subsequently taken to a private clinic. The driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash, Felipe Gonzalez was unhurt.
Later, Vidal, along with Felipe Correa (Chilean Football Federation executive) and the national team’s physical trainer, Jorge Desio, gave a statement to local Buin police just before midnight (local time).
"Unfortunately I have been involved in a motoring accident. Fortunately everyone is all right and relaxed. Thanks for your concern". This was the message that Vidal poster on his personal Twitter account at 00:30, Chilean time.
All was set to change however, when at 01:15 (local Chilean time), local police representative, Ricardo González, confirmed that Vidal was driving under the influence of alcohol and will sit before a judge on Wednesday as part of the new Chilean ‘Emilia Law’, which can hand out harsh sentences to those caught driving whilst under the influence.