Tarragona, Spain: Beach Cleaning Vehicle Runs Over Man Sleeping on L'Arrabassada Beach

In the early hours of a Sunday, a municipal beach‑cleaning vehicle drove over a man sleeping under a blanket on L'Arrabassada Beach in Tarragona, Catalonia. The victim, whose identity was not released and who was reported to be homeless, was taken to Joan XXIII Hospital in a conscious state but died the following day despite treatment.

The driver said he did not see the man until after the impact, and a police alcohol test was negative. Catalan police opened a criminal investigation, and the Tarragona City Council said it would review safety procedures for early‑morning beach cleaning operations. The incident follows previous beach‑vehicle fatalities, including a 2024 case in Gran Canaria where a German tourist was killed.

Authorities are examining how the blanket and the vehicle’s visibility contributed to the accident and are considering new safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.