Baby dies, 17 injured after car hits crowd on Rio boardwalk

Brazilian authorities say a baby was killed and 17 people were injured when a motorist drove into a crowded boardwalk along Copacabana beach.

Rio de Janeiro's municipal health department confirmed today that an Australian was among those injured in the Thursday night incident and that the 68-year-old is breathing with the help of a respirator.

Eight others remain hospitalized, many with broken bones. The state health department confirmed the death of a baby girl.

The famous Brazilian boardwalk was crowded on a hot summer night when the car jumped the curb.

Police have said it was not a terrorist attack and have arrested the driver. The driver told police he had not been drinking but lost control of his car. He also said that he has epilepsy.