Work accident
A tragic transport incident unfolded on a rural road near Lorca, leaving three dead and seven injured, some seriously. The event involved a pickup truck that veered off a roadway and toppled onto an embankment between Caravaca de la Cruz and the surrounding area. Local authorities say the Civil Guard Traffic unit was promptly notified and arrived to document the scene and begin an initial investigation.
Initial reports place the accident at around seven o’clock in the evening, on the road that climbs toward the upper portion of the city. The vehicle, which was transporting workers who had just finished a day in the fields, apparently lost control for reasons that have not yet been determined by investigators. The crash involved a minibus carrying roughly eight laborers, all of whom were en route from Archivel to their job sites. No other vehicle appears to have been involved in the collision, according to early assessments.
Among the injured were several workers who were distributed for medical attention across nearby facilities. The local emergency response coordinated by the Lorca and Comarcal del Noroeste health services carefully triaged the victims to ensure the most critical cases received immediate care.
A total of 9 firefighters from the emergency consortium responded to the call, deploying 4 vehicles to the scene to manage the wreckage and assist occupants. Their operations included stabilizing the bus, clearing debris, and securing the area to prevent further harm. In addition, seven ambulances, including two mobile emergency units and five 061 ambulances, were dispatched to provide on-site stabilization and rapid transport where necessary. Despite the swift and concerted effort of first responders, three workers died at the scene, according to official statements from authorities involved in the incident.
Officials note that, given the clear occupational context of the crash, it is treated as a workplace accident by the relevant authorities. The case has been forwarded to the responsible regulatory bodies in occupational safety for review, with the aim of determining any contributing factors tied to the work environment and conditions that led to the event.
The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the Forensic Medicine Institute for autopsy to establish the precise cause of death in a careful and respectful manner. The investigation continues under the oversight of the Civil Guard, which remains the competent authority for this inquiry and will determine whether negligence or other factors are involved and who, if anyone, may be held accountable.
Labor unions and worker safety advocates have long warned about rural working conditions, including the strains placed on drivers and the fatigue that can accompany long shifts in the fields. Some workers noted that one of the minibuses involved in this incident recently carried drivers who had spent extended hours on the road, a factor that can contribute to diminished alertness and slower reaction times. While officials have not yet released a final assessment of the specific causes in this case, the emphasis on proper rest periods and vehicle safety remains a central concern for regulators and employers alike.
In a separate note, records show that last August a similar accident occurred in Lorca where six workers who were traveling by minibus sustained injuries after a fall from an embankment of about five meters. Those incidents highlighted ongoing safety challenges in rural transport and underscored the importance of proactive risk management for workers relying on carry vehicles to reach their fields.