A Spanish lorry driver, identified only by the initials F.J.A. and affiliated with the Sinacoas trade union, was admitted to hospital after being stranded for more than 24 hours on board a broken-down industrial vehicle, with outside temperatures exceeding 42°C and no functioning air conditioning. The union itself reported the case, denouncing the employer’s failure to provide prompt roadside assistance.
The incident dates back to 23 July 2026, when the driver reported a technical fault with the vehicle to the company at 17.37 near Ontígola: the particulate filter was completely blocked. Despite the report, the company allegedly initially ordered him to continue driving, but the vehicle came to a halt for the first time at 18.52, about 15 kilometres before Puerto Lápice. The driver nevertheless managed to reach Guarromán during the night to unload the goods, before having to stop at an automated service station with no shop or catering facilities.
At 20.30 on 23 July, the worker called the company again for an update and discovered that roadside assistance had never been contacted, despite the assurances he had previously received. According to the account released by Sinacoas, the company then allegedly forced him to continue the journey at reduced speed, with the damaged vehicle, for more than two hours, as far as Guarromán. The following day, at 16.00, the company maintained that assistance was already on its way; however, only at 17.30 did it provide the driver with the direct number of the breakdown service, which in turn revealed that it had not yet set off and would not be able to intervene before 20.00. The driver was then told that a mechanic would be sent from Madrid, involving an expected journey of three hours, leaving the worker with no means of sheltering from the heat.
The driver’s health gradually deteriorated, forcing him to contact the 112 emergency number himself. At around 20.30, he was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he remained under observation for symptoms of heatstroke and elevated blood pressure; he received emergency treatment and was discharged at 23.00 that same Friday. Only at that point was the worker offered an overnight hotel stay, a taxi to the station and a train ticket for his return journey the following day. Sinacoas made the case public, strongly condemning what had happened and announcing its intention to report the case to the competent authorities, although it has not been confirmed whether a formal complaint has already been filed.
