The collision happened shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday near number 4 on Avenida de América, where a car struck a 74-year-old man as he crossed a stretch not intended for pedestrians. Samur-Protección Civil crews found him in cardiac arrest and attempted resuscitation for about 40 minutes before confirming his death at the scene, Emergencias Madrid said.
His arms and legs, along with his chest and abdomen, suffered severe injuries. He also sustained critical head trauma. After the collision, a Samur-PC psychologist provided psychological assistance to the driver.
The Municipal Police’s Judicial Traffic Unit is investigating and preparing an official report. Crossing outside a designated pedestrian crossing is one circumstance investigators will examine, but it does not by itself establish legal responsibility. The reconstruction will depend on the evidence from the scene, including vehicle speed and road conditions. Investigators will also assess the pedestrian’s movements and whether the driver was paying attention.
The Dirección General de Tráfico describes pedestrians as among the least-protected road users because no vehicle structure shields them from impact. That vulnerability can have grave consequences in a collision, but the circumstances of this crash remain under police investigation.
Recent months have brought increased attention to road safety in Spain, as several high-profile accidents drew public scrutiny. In a separate case in Lleida, a driver fled the scene after a deadly crash, as reported in coverage of a fatal accident in Mollerussa. The Avenida de América collision highlights the need to protect pedestrians on major urban roads and establish the facts before drawing conclusions about how it happened.
