Taxi driver ‘attacked passenger for burping in his car’
A 51-year-old taxi driver has been detained after allegedly assaulting an Irish tourist for burping inside his vehicle at a Costa del Sol resort. The incident, which occurred near a hotel on the seafront promenade in Fuengirola, left the 65-year-old victim with severe head and facial injuries.
Victim hospitalized after being thrown to the ground
The injured passenger was first taken to a health center in Las Lagunas before being transferred to a hospital in Marbella. Witnesses described how the driver punched the tourist to the ground, causing him to hit his head on the curb as he exited the taxi with a companion.
According to reports, the driver ordered the unnamed tourist to leave the car for burping, escalating the situation when the passenger and friend stepped out. The second passenger in the vehicle remained unharmed during the altercation.
It remains uncertain whether the intoxicated victim is still in the hospital, with officials yet to confirm his current condition. The driver was arrested on the scene by National Police rapid response officers, who arrived with paramedics after being alerted by concerned witnesses.
Following an appearance before an investigating judge, the driver was released on bail, though the criminal investigation into the incident continues. This follows a similar case in November of last year, where another Fuengirola driver was detained for allegedly dragging a tourist along the road during a fare dispute.
The tourist involved in the earlier incident, whose nationality was not disclosed, was also taken to the same hospital as the Irish victim. In that case, the passenger suffered head injuries when the driver accelerated, causing them to lose their grip on the door handle.
“The driver punched the tourist to the ground, leaving him with severe injuries,” a witness reportedly stated. “He was trying to stop him from driving off with his suitcase.”
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