The intentional run-over of six people in the parking lot of the Haro health center in La Rioja caused one death on Monday night and keeps this town of 11,500 inhabitants in dismay. The author of the terrible events, a 26-year-old man from Biscay, has already been arrested, although the investigation into what could have been his motivation continues. Official sources have confirmed that the detainee went to this center, accompanied by his parents, in order to receive treatment, so the hypothesis that the tragic event responds to a mental health problem of the alleged perpetrator is being studied.
The person who died as a result of the brutal collision is Manuel Montoya, a 32-year-old health worker from Santurde de Rioja. The young man worked as a health emergency technician at the Haro health center. As for the other five injured, three of them health workers, there is no fear for the lives of any of them, although their conditions are of varying severity.
The youngest of the injured is a 37-year-old emergency doctor who is in the short-stay unit and has suffered "a trauma to his hand and knee". Another of the injured paramedics is a 38-year-old man, an emergency technician, who suffered multiple fractures and who "will be operated on for the various fractures in the coming days".
Likewise, a 62-year-old emergency nurse is in hospital, who "has significant trauma, although she is stable". The other two injured, unrelated to the health field, are also in the hospital for fractures of varying severity.
The events took place after 10.15pm on Monday. At that time, an SUV driven by the detainee broke into the parking lot of the health center at high speed. "He entered at great speed and intentionally ran over these six people who were in a group," explained Miguel Ángel Sáez, spokesman for the Civil Guard. The young man was apparently shouting slogans against the Government while driving recklessly.
The detainee, a native of the Biscayan town of Basauri, was summering in the town of Haro with his family and, accompanied by his parents, went to the health center to receive medical treatment for problems related to mental health. Sources of the investigation indicate that his behavior could have obeyed a psychotic outbreak with fatal consequences.
The perpetrator of the hit-and-run was arrested shortly after the incident and taken to the Haro local police dungeon. The suspect has no prior record. Official sources confirm that he will be charged with a crime of homicide and five more in the degree of attempt.
After the events, a large emergency device was enabled, with more than 100 paramedics and 5 mobile UVI, who worked throughout the night, and psychological support was offered to the paramedics.
The news has caused a great impact in this town of La Rioja, the most important in the north-west of the community and the fourth municipality of La Rioja in terms of population. The Government of La Rioja has declared two days of official mourning for these events, and the president of the community, Gonzalo Capellán, pointed out yesterday that "it is a very hard day for La Rioja and for all its inhabitants". "We want to express all our pain and our closeness to the families of the victims of these events and our condolences to the family of the deceased", he indicated. After visiting the injured at the San Pedro de Logronyo hospital, he added that "fortunately they are stable and out of danger".
Meanwhile, the mayor of Haro, Guadalupe Fernández Prado, thanked the "spectacular task" that the health workers of La Rioja from the local health center did this Monday night, who "maintained the type in a moment of chaos" after the multiple hit-and-run.
