A tourist has died in a Gran Canaria beach horror after being run over by a delivery vehicle as she sunbathed on the sand.
The 64-year-old victim was killed virtually instantly after the 4×4 pick-up went over her chest at the Brit-popular Playa del Ingles resort while her husband was taking a dip in the sea.
The driver of the vehicle that hit her failed to stop and after being tracked down by police shortly after the lunchtime tragedy yesterday insisted he had no idea he had just hit someone.
The incident happened near the famous Maspalomas Dunes a few feet away from a beach kiosk believed to be among those the pick-up delivered merchandise to.
The ongoing police investigation is understood to focus on why the vehicle, initially described by emergency responders as a quad, was on the beach outside of the permitted 8am-11am delivery times and whether it was following a designated route.
Officials have not yet confirmed the victim’s nationality, but she is understood to be a German woman who was holidaying in the south of Gran Canaria.
A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response coordination centre said: “A woman has died after being run over a by a quad on a beach in Gran Canaria.
“The incident occurred around 12.30pm yesterday at Playa del Ingles in the municipality of San Bartolome de Tirajana.
“She was confirmed dead after beach lifeguards responded with initial medical assistance.
“Police attended the scene along with paramedics.”
Well-placed police sources said the driver who ran over the tourist passed drink and drug tests.
He has been fully identified but is not thought to have been arrested. He is now being quizzed by an investigating judge in charge of an ongoing court probe into the tragedy.
Police have not yet revealed his nationality. He has been described locally as a 50-year-old working on the beach for a decade and knows the area well.