Cornellà, Spain — A serious accident occurred outside the RCDE Stadium ahead of the highly anticipated Espanyol–Barcelona match on May 15, 2025. A vehicle lost control and struck a group of fans waiting for the team’s bus, injuring a total of 13 individuals.
The incident happened approximately 90 minutes before the start of the derby, shocking spectators who were gathered outside. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene, and emergency services were deployed swiftly to manage the situation. Ambulances arrived on the scene promptly to provide urgent care to the victims.
According to initial reports from the Mossos d'Esquadra, the regional police, the driver of the vehicle—a white Peugeot 208—lost control while navigating through the area. The police confirmed that all injured fans sustained minor injuries, and the collision was deemed accidental.
“The woman was driving between the fans when she accidentally knocked down a girl, prompting an immediate response from the crowd,” a witness recounted. “In the panic, she seemed to accelerate out of fear, leading to a more extensive injury situation.”
The driver, identified as a woman in her mid-50s, was detained for questioning. Authorities clarified that there were no indications of foul play or intentional harm. The investigation is currently underway to piece together the sequence of events that led to the accident.
The Servei d’Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) reported that treatment was administered to a total of 13 injured individuals, including four in moderate condition and nine with minor injuries. Thankfully, there were no severe cases.
The match was briefly halted as information about the incident was conveyed via stadium announcements. “We can confirm that the situation is under control, and there are no serious injuries,” officials stated over the PA system.
Referee César Soto Grado paused the game to confer with team captains and the police regarding the accident’s severity. After receiving assurances from the Mossos d’Esquadra, he decided to resume play, much to the dismay of some fans, particularly from the Espanyol Grada Canito section, who believed the game should have been suspended.
By the 10th minute of the match, fans remained restless following the incident, with many expressing concerns over the safety of those gathered outside. “It’s shocking to see something like this happen right before such an important match,” commented one fan exiting the stadium.
The police have established a cordon outside the stadium, where upwards of 100 individuals remained on-site, monitored by multiple police units and medical personnel. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, the game continued, but the event has prompted discussions about fan safety and emergency preparedness at sporting events moving forward.
