MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

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Authorities have not described the event as intentional, and the Attorney General's Office of Baja California Sur is investigating the circumstances

At least 17 people were injured on Wednesday night when a car drove into a crowd celebrating in the streets of Cabo San Lucas, in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, Mexico's win over the Czech Republic at the World Cup. The driver was detained, and authorities opened an investigation to clarify what happened.

The incident took place on Lázaro Cárdenas Boulevard, one of the city's busiest tourist areas, where hundreds of fans had gathered to celebrate the 3-0 victory that sent Mexico through to the next round of the tournament. According to a statement from the Los Cabos Public Security Directorate, the driver “found himself surrounded by people who were blocking his way and exerting physical pressure on his vehicle” and “carried out a sudden acceleration maneuver,” which caused several pedestrians to be run over. Videos circulating on social media show a group of people surrounding and shaking the vehicle before it accelerated and struck several fans, coming to a stop after hitting a lamppost.

Authorities have not described the event as intentional, and the Attorney General's Office of Baja California Sur is investigating the circumstances. The injured were taken to several hospitals in the region; one of them was in serious condition, though no deaths have been confirmed. The driver was also injured: after the incident, a group of people pulled him from the vehicle and beat him before police intervened, leaving him hospitalized under custody. He was handed over to the prosecuting authority, which will determine his legal situation.

The Mexican Football Federation lamented the events in a statement, expressed its solidarity with the victims and said it trusted that the authorities would clarify what happened “in strict adherence to due process.” The episode marred a day of mass celebrations in cities across the country after the national team, coached by Javier Aguirre, qualified for the round of 32.

It was not the only incident during the World Cup celebrations in Mexico. In recent days, similar events were reported in other cities, including the running over of several fans in Chihuahua by a driver allegedly under the influence of alcohol. The Los Cabos authorities said that, after the rescue work and forensic examinations, the area was cleared and public order was restored. The investigation into the Cabo San Lucas incident remains open to determine responsibilities.