Barcelona Police Seek Driver Who Hit Pedestrian on Via Júlia
Guàrdia Urbana opened an inquiry into a driver who hit a pedestrian on Via Júlia during Wednesday's general strike and fled. The man was lightly hurt.
Barcelona’s municipal police, the Guàrdia Urbana, have opened an inquiry to find a driver who hit a pedestrian on Via Júlia on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and drove away, according to betevé (citing the ACN news agency) and El Caso. The pedestrian was lightly injured. The incident happened in the late morning during the general strike, when protesters were blocking traffic at several points in the city.
What the video shows
The case became known after a video spread on social media. In it, the man steps in front of the car and tries to stop it. The driver accelerates and drags him several meters in a straight line, according to betevé. El Caso, which says it saw the footage, adds that the pedestrian was thrown by the force of the impact and ended up on the ground.
Several bystanders then call on the driver to stop, and some signal for the car to wait, but it speeds up again. El Caso reports that the car narrowly missed the man on the ground and fled after hitting containers that protesters had placed in the roadway.
Where it happened
The incident took place on Via Júlia in the Nou Barris district, according to El Caso. A group of protesters had cut off vehicles at the junction with Joaquim Valls street, and the pedestrian reportedly tried to keep the car from continuing down the road.
What police and the city say
Municipal sources told El Caso the Guàrdia Urbana has opened an inquiry to establish the facts and find the driver, who has not been located. The pedestrian received medical attention for injuries that are not serious. Neither outlet names the pedestrian or the driver.
El Caso also reports a similar incident in Tarragona, where a man was lightly injured after being hit at pickets blocking the road near the Hospital Joan XXIII.
Why it matters
The strike cut access to Barcelona at several points, and the Via Júlia case shows the risk faced by people standing in the road at protest blockades. For residents who drive, the case means that police are investigating a driver who left the scene, and it may lead to charges. No charges have been announced, and the driver’s identity is not public.
