Thirteen people were hit and injured by a car driven at speed down a busy drinkers' street in the early hours of Sunday morning in Praia da Rocha, Portimão.
All were taken to the local hospital where two remain in a serious condition, according to the police.
The man driving the car, Afonso Albergaria, 25, a supermarket worker originally from São Tomé, drove into street furniture and people as he tried to evade police who has twice asked for him to stop. Afonso then took off down a street crowded with tourists but was intercepted by the police and tried to run away.
Police later said that Albergaria had a blood alcohol level of 0.7 grams per litre.
Albergaria was taken to hospital but in his case to undergo tests to see if he had any other drugs in his system that might better explain this horrific incident.
The unlicensed driver is said to have got into his car next to the Katedral nightclub and twice was asked to stop by police. He then drove off fast down the pedestrian-filled street hitting people indiscriminately.
The injured Portuguese (6), Spanish (5) and Cape Verdeans (2) were assisted on site and then transported by ambulance to the hospital where two remain.
