Handbrake Failure Sends Parked Car Crashing into Encamp Shop Window

A car parked on Avinguda François Mitterrand in central Encamp crashed into a shop window around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday after its handbrake apparently failed.

The Andorran-plated vehicle had been left in a loading zone uphill from the site at number 6, near the corner with Carrer dels Arínsols and close to a pharmacy, supermarket, and the former Rosaleda hotel. Witnesses reported that the driver was surprised by the incident and unaware of what had caused it. With its wheels angled slightly left, the car rolled roughly 30 meters uncontrollably across the avenue before striking the storefront of an informatics business and a nearby communal signpost.

Some 30 people on an adjacent bar terrace scattered in time amid the midday crowds, with the low speed preventing injuries. No one was hurt, and damage remained limited to the shop's glass front, the vehicle, and the sign.

Parish traffic police, including four officers, arrived quickly to secure the area, remove the car with a tow truck, and handle insurance details between those involved. Traffic resumed promptly.

The incident drew attention due to its busy location, though officials have not released a full explanation of the cause. The shop plans to replace its damaged front, while the commune will repair the sign.