Valls, Spain – The Spanish town of Valls (Alt Camp) is reeling from the tragic death of a two-and-a-half-year-old child who died inside his father’s car in an industrial area on Tuesday. The Mossos d’Esquadra are now investigating the father for alleged negligent homicide. The incident, which occurred during extreme heat, has sparked nationwide consternation and raises important questions about child safety in vehicles.
Investigations Underway: Focus on Negligent Homicide
The presiding judge in Valls has already opened proceedings after initial analyses by the Mossos d’Esquadra pointed to gross negligent homicide. According to current findings, the father allegedly forgot the minor in the vehicle for hours while the car was parked in an industrial area with outdoor temperatures reaching 37 degrees Celsius. The interior temperature would have been significantly higher.
The Catalan police are diligently completing their report, which is expected to be submitted to the courts this week. The father’s statement, taken at the Valls police station this afternoon in the presence of his lawyer, was a crucial step in the investigation. Police sources confirmed to EL PERIÓDICO that the report is likely to be finalized quickly, as the case appears “quite clear” and suggests a tragic accident. However, it will be up to the judicial system to decide whether the father will be charged. The delay in the father’s statement was attributed to his “state of shock.”
Car Heat Trap: A Fatal Risk for Children
The events of Tuesday morning paint a harrowing picture: the father went to work and forgot his two-and-a-half-year-old son in the vehicle. The car was parked for hours on Manyans Street in the Valls industrial area. It was not until 3:06 PM, when the alert was received, that a fire brigade crew was dispatched. Upon their arrival, the father had already removed the child from the vehicle and brought him into an air-conditioned room.
Despite immediate resuscitation attempts by the Medical Emergency Service (SEM), the child tragically died. The Mossos have taken over the investigation, and the SEM offered psychological support to the parents. The exact cause of death is now awaiting confirmation by autopsy. This case dramatically underscores the extreme danger that overheated vehicles pose to children – a danger that is often underestimated.
Shock and Mourning in Valls and La Masó
The father is an employee of Fer Valls, a company that rents and repairs construction vehicles and cranes, also located in the affected industrial area. The company has closed for three days out of respect for the tragedy. Workers in the vicinity were deeply shocked and bewildered by the incident. It was “hard to imagine” how such a fatal event could have occurred, according to a neighboring company.
The city of Valls has declared a two-day official mourning period as a sign of sorrow and respect. At noon on Wednesday, dozens of people gathered for a poignant minute of silence in Plaça del Blat in front of the town hall. Attendees included the Mayor of Valls, Dolors Farré, and the Mayor of La Masó, Albert Camps, where the child’s family lives. The director of the daycare center and employees of the affected company also participated.
Mayor Farré expressed her deep sorrow: “These are very sad days for the city; we are in shock.” Mayor Camps also found “no valid words” in the face of the tragic news. Both mayors emphasized that there had been no comparable event in the region to date. La Masó has also declared a three-day mourning period. The incident in Valls serves as a powerful reminder of the need for heightened awareness and prevention to avoid such tragedies in the future.
