A 49-year-old man from Arad, Romania, has been detained after allegedly operating a forklift under the influence of alcohol and fatally striking a woman in the yard of a construction materials warehouse.

The incident occurred on January 23, 2026, at approximately 12:30 p.m., in the courtyard of a depot located in the municipality of Arad. According to police authorities, the forklift operator hit the woman while maneuvering the industrial vehicle on the premises.

Responding officers conducted an alcohol breath test, which indicated a concentration of 0.30 mg/l of pure alcohol in the driver’s exhaled air. Following the incident, the man was transported to a medical facility for biological sample collection to determine his exact blood alcohol level.

Despite emergency response efforts, the woman succumbed to her injuries.

Authorities have opened a criminal investigation for involuntary manslaughter. The suspect was detained for 24 hours as investigations continue.