This incident, occurring in Marchena, Seville, involved a tractor pulling a buoy during the Three Wise Men parade. A person under two years old was seriously injured along with four others when the vehicle crushed a buoy and collided with a wall. A woman died, and another person remained seriously injured in the Virgen del Rocío hospital’s observation area, as confirmed by hospital sources. The same hospital treated a second seriously injured individual in its Traumatology department, while three other people with lesser injuries received care at a health center in Osuna.
The tragedy unfolded last Thursday around 20:15, amid the Three Wise Men procession in Marchena. The Andalusian 112 emergency system received alerts describing a tractor involved in the parade losing control and moving down a slope, striking several bystanders and hitting a wall on Plaza de San Andres.
Local Police, Civil Guard, the Provincial Fire Brigade, and the 061 Health Emergency Center teams, all operating under the Andalusian Health Service (SAS), responded promptly. Five people were injured, including a child under two and a woman who died. A second seriously injured person was transported to Virgen del Rocío hospital, while the child was taken to the Virgen del Rocío Children’s Hospital in Seville.
The child was admitted to the Virgen del Rocío Children’s Hospital, and the severely injured adult was referred to the hospital’s Traumatology department. The other three individuals with mild injuries received treatment at a health center in Osuna.
A mechanical fault in the tractor
The investigation into the serious accident during the Three Wise Men parade in Maechena, Seville, last Thursday night suggests a mechanical fault in the tractor, according to Carlos Toscano, the regional representative of the central government. He commented that the incident is being treated as an unfortunate accident and extended condolences to the families affected and to the municipality of Marchena.
Officials from the Toscano administration noted that the investigation involved the Judicial Police and Civil Guard Traffic Police, and remains in preparation. The damaged tractor is reported to show signs of mechanical failure, while driver tests conducted so far have not revealed anomalies. The vehicles used to pull the buoys had undergone relevant technical checks (ITV) prior to the event.
The last float of the parade
Eyewitnesses described the final buoy, named Baltasar, heading toward Las Torres street. One witness recalled that everything seemed normal until the tractor descended a downhill slope, not very steep or long. The vehicle started to pick up speed at a curve, prompting bystanders to move away. Instead of returning to the street as planned, the tractor veered to the opposite side, striking everything in its path.
Several bystanders helped free a woman who was trapped under the tractor, a moment that underscored the deadly side of the event. An elderly man, the tractor driver, was also injured and transported to a hospital, where he experienced an anxiety crisis. The scene prompted urgent responses from onlookers and emergency teams alike, highlighting the fragility of large public celebrations and the need for safety measures during such processions. This account comes from field reports and statements collected by regional media and authorities [Canal Sur Radio; Europa Press].