Garbage truck with brake failure hits pedestrians in Pamplona's old town, killing one and injuring four
A municipal waste truck lost control on a steep street near the cathedral around 3:45 p.m. Sunday, striking several people in the crowded Navarrería area of Pamplona's Casco Antiguo.
The accident
A garbage collection truck traveling down the slope from the cathedral on Calle Navarrería struck multiple pedestrians at approximately 15:45 on Sunday afternoon. The vehicle's braking system appears to have failed, according to initial police reports, though the exact mechanical cause remains under investigation. Municipal Police chief Antonio Sánchez confirmed the truck hit people who were on the street at the time. The heavy vehicle came to a stop after the collision, trapping some victims underneath it.
Casualties
One person died at the scene. Four others were injured, two of them seriously. Emergency services transported the two seriously hurt victims to the Hospital Universitario de Navarra. One person with minor injuries was also taken there, while another with light wounds was brought to the Doctor San Martín health centre. Firefighters had to use a large crane to lift the truck and free people pinned beneath it.
Emergency response
Pamplona Municipal Police cordoned off the area immediately after the crash. Regional Policía Foral officers closed adjacent streets to clear routes for ambulances and rescue vehicles. Firefighters from Navarra's service worked for an extended period to extract trapped individuals from under the truck. Several ambulances were deployed to the scene.
Investigating the cause
The primary hypothesis is a brake system malfunction. Police have not yet determined whether this was a sudden failure or a gradual loss of braking power. The investigation is being led by the municipal police, who have emphasised that the event was an accident. No immediate information was released about the driver's condition or account.
A busy Sunday afternoon
The accident happened on a slope leading up to the Plaza de la Catedral, an area known for its popular pintxo-pote bars and heavy weekend pedestrian traffic. This Sunday, the crowd was particularly large because many people had taken part in the LGTBI+ Pride Day march held earlier in the city. Witnesses described the street as packed with people when the truck began to roll uncontrollably downhill.
