The National Police launched an inquiry to determine the causes of a recent incident at a fair facility. A new accident struck the site, this time involving a ride known locally as the “witch train.” A worker was seriously injured and remains hospitalized after being crushed during the event at the Alaquàs fair in Valencia. The man, dressed as Donald Duck for Carnival-themed outreach to children, did not appear to have an employment contract in place at the time of the incident.
The events unfolded on Friday, May 6, when a passerby asked the children who were boarding the ride to step back as the wagons shifted. In an instant, the locomotive collided with the man, who toppled and was crushed beneath the moving car. Witnesses reported a fractured shoulder and a head injury, along with numerous bruises. Fortunately, the ride did not topple, so the minors were evacuated and the activity halted for safety reasons while the patient was attended to.
Local and national emergency services were contacted via the 112 line. Operators dispatched patrols to the scene, where medical staff quickly assessed the worker, placed him in a police vehicle, and transported him to the Alaquàs health center. According to the Emergency Information and Coordination Center (CICU), the on-duty physician diagnosed a shoulder fracture and requested an ambulance to move the patient to La Fe Hospital. The young man, a Spanish national, underwent emergency surgery and remains hospitalized; his condition is serious but not life-threatening at this time.
Police investigation continues
As investigations proceed, the National Police closed the attraction so Scientific Police personnel could secure the area and begin initial examinations. The Forensic Police unit from the Xirivella station began taking statements from witnesses and the vendor, aiming to understand not only how and why the accident occurred but also to assess the safety and administrative conditions surrounding the ride known as the ‘‘witch train.’’ Authorities are also examining the worker’s employment status, a matter that has drawn scrutiny in fairgrounds where contractual arrangements can be inconsistent.
This incident marks a second serious accident involving an attraction in the Valencia region. Earlier, a zip line at a shopping center in the Cap i Casal area caused a worker to die after a fall from a height of four meters. That case, investigated by the Homicide Squad, highlights ongoing concerns about safety practices in the area connected to crowded entertainment venues.
Suspicious inflatable accident
Earlier in January, a tragic incident at a fair in Mislata claimed two young lives. Vera, four, and Cayetana, eight, died when a bouncy castle inflated for a Christmas fair burst during the afternoon-to-evening period. The police have flagged irregularities in the setup and are investigating the fair’s owner, his father-in-law, and the engineer who approved the inflation. The case has raised questions about maintenance protocols and regulatory oversight for inflatable attractions.
In another line of inquiry, Homicide is searching for a fair worker who was reportedly present at the site since January. A young man, described by witnesses as possibly of North African descent, is suspected of lacking a formal contract. Some witnesses insist he did check tickets and ride times for the damaged structure as well as other attractions on the grounds. When the wind picked up, he is said to have been the sole person connected to the fairground who came to assist the children. Cayetana died within hours, and Vera succumbed several days later, with nine other children sustaining varying injuries. The investigation continues as authorities seek clarity on the roles and responsibilities of all workers at the fair, as well as the adequacy of safety measures throughout the site (source: local police and investigative bodies).