Mexican authorities launched an investigation after a driver plowed his vehicle into a crowd celebrating Mexico’s World Cup win, leaving at least 17 people injured on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. in a bustling tourist zone of Cabo San Lucas, a resort city in Baja California Sur, according to the state attorney general’s office.
Seventeen injured individuals were receiving treatment at local hospitals, Alberto Rentería Santana, secretary general of the Los Cabos City Council, announced on social media, while health officials reported that one victim remained in critical condition.
The crash happened during a large public gathering in the Centro neighborhood after Mexico’s men’s national soccer team defeated the Czech Republic, the Los Cabos General Directorate of Public Security stated on social media.
According to the statement, the driver, finding themselves hemmed in by a crowd that was blocking the vehicle and applying pressure, abruptly accelerated, striking several pedestrians.
The statement noted that the driver was detained at the scene, taken to a hospital for evaluation, and then transferred to law‑enforcement custody.
Videos shared on social media and corroborated by The New York Times depict a black sedan plowing into a throng outside a bar strip near the marina. Witnesses scream and blow air horns, while others strike and shake the vehicle as it repeatedly lurches forward into the crowd.
The car continued forward, striking additional pedestrians before crashing into a line of bollards. One individual wearing a Mexico jersey lies motionless and bloodied on a nearby curb.
The crash occurred amid nationwide celebrations that flooded streets with jubilant crowds. In Mexico City, for example, an estimated 800,000 fans gathered on Paseo de la Reforma, a major artery, to honor the team’s win despite torrential rain.
Following previous victories, supporters have routinely climbed onto and rocked everything from city buses to police cars, a festive tradition that has become commonplace during this World Cup in Mexico.
Other incidents of vehicles striking revelers have occurred during the festivities, yet the Los Cabos crash resulted in the greatest number of injuries. Last week in Chihuahua, three fans were hurt when a pickup truck slammed into a small crowd that had surrounded and rocked the vehicle.
The Mexican Football Federation expressed deep regret over the incident on social media, urging authorities to clarify the events and assign responsibility.
