Tragic Accident Claims Life of Tourist on Gran Canaria Beach
A relaxing beach day turned into a nightmare for a German tourist in Gran Canaria as she was struck and killed by a delivery truck. The 64-year-old woman was enjoying the sun near the popular Playa del Ingles resort while her husband took a dip in the ocean.
The horrific incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time when a 4×4 pick-up truck, believed to be making deliveries to nearby beach kiosks, drove onto the sand, tragically colliding with the unsuspecting tourist. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but despite the immediate attention of beach lifeguards, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
"A woman has died after being run over by a quad on a beach in Gran Canaria," a spokesperson for a regional government-run emergency response coordination center confirmed. "The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. yesterday at Playa del Ingles… She was confirmed dead after beach lifeguards responded with initial medical assistance."
Adding to the tragedy, the driver of the vehicle initially left the scene without stopping. Authorities tracked him down shortly after the accident. He claimed to have been unaware he had struck someone, a claim that is currently being investigated by authorities.
Preliminary tests revealed the driver had not been drinking or using drugs. He has remained unidentified by authorities but has reportedly been working on the beach for a decade and is familiar with the area.
While the driver was not arrested at the time, he is expected to face questioning by an investigating judge who is overseeing the ongoing probe.
The permitted delivery hours on the beach are between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., raising questions about the truck’s presence on the sand at the time of the accident and whether it was adhering to designated routes.
This tragic event is a stark reminder of the importance of safety precautions on beaches. It follows a troubling trend of tourists meeting tragic ends on Spanish shores. Last month, a 34-year-old British man was found dead on a beach in Lanzarote, and a few months prior, another British man in his mid-30s was also found dead near a beach in Mojacar.
The investigation into this heartbreaking incident continues, with authorities hoping to uncover the full sequence of events and determine any potential negligence.
