An baby of just twenty days has lost her life in Calpe (Alicante) after being run over by a car that, without a driver, moved downhill after being parked on a steep street. The vehicle accelerated and hit the little girl as her mother carried her in her arms.
The woman suffered extremely serious injuries, with a clot in the brain and leg amputation, and remains hospitalized in critical condition. Local police has opened an investigation to clarify whether the handbrake was not engaged or whether the car's immobilization systems failed.
What is known about the accident
The incident occurred in an area of urbanization of Calpe, where the car, which was parked a few meters away, began to move out of control due to the slope of the road. The mother was walking with the girl in her arms when, suddenly, the car pounced about both.
At the time of the accident the following were present: father of the family and the other son, four years old, who witnessed the scene. The magnitude of the impact has left the municipality deeply shocked, according to local residents and media.
Initial reports indicate that the vehicle may have been poorly secured or suffered some immobilization failureHowever, it will be the investigation that will determine the exact chain of events.
Health care and status of victims
Medical teams from the Cicu, after the City Council facilitated access to the area, which presented difficulties due to its location in a residential area. The professionals managed stabilize the mother at the scene of the accident before evacuation.
The woman was transferred to the Hospital de Dénia, where he remains in critical condition due to serious injuries, including a brain clot. The health workers also confirmed the leg amputation as a result of the accident.
The baby was evacuated to the La Fe Hospital in Valencia with a reserved prognosis, but ultimately he was unable to overcome his injuries. Despite the efforts of the medical teams, the minor died hours later.
Research and possible causes
La Local police has launched an investigation to determine why the car started moving without a driver. Among the hypotheses considered is the absence of the driver. hand brake or a technical failure in the vehicle's restraint systems.
Mechanical inspection of tourism is planned, taking of statements to witnesses and the reconstruction of the event to clarify the exact sequence. All the evidence gathered will be key to determining responsibility and preventing such a tragic event can be repeated.
Impact on the municipality and safety reminder
The city council and the residents of Calpe have shown their consternation for what happened. This case once again puts the spotlight on the need to take extreme measures security measures when parking, especially on sloping streets.
Experts remind you of basic actions such as checking the hand brake, leave a gear engaged in vehicles with manual transmission (or the parking position in automatic ones), orient the wheels towards the curb on slopes and, when possible, use wedges or shims security; it is also important to review how correctly position the car seat.
The tragic accident in Calpe leaves a family broken and a community in shock, while authorities try to clarify what went wrong that caused a parked car will end up becoming a weapon; the mother remains critical in Dénia and the baby did not survive after his transfer to La Fe.
