A deeply disturbing domestic violence incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon, May 9, in the Pantanassa area of Heraklion, Crete, when a 30-year-old man allegedly ran over his 27-year-old wife with his van, deliberately, according to police. What makes the incident even more shocking is that three of the couple’s four minor children were in the vehicle with the father at the time.

According to local media reports, the incident came to light when a passing driver — reportedly a physician — spotted the woman bleeding in the road and realized something serious had occurred. He immediately alerted the Ammoudara Police Station, and officers arrived on the scene within minutes.

An EKAB ambulance also responded and transported the injured woman to the University General Hospital of Heraklion, where she is currently hospitalized in the neurosurgery unit with serious traumatic brain injuries. The 27-year-old is also reported to have been a diabetic since a young age, a factor that may complicate her recovery.

The 30-year-old husband initially claimed to police that his wife had been a passenger in the vehicle and suddenly opened the door while it was moving, jumping out and sustaining her injuries in the fall. However, as the preliminary investigation progressed, the account he gave began to unravel. Investigators determined that the circumstances pointed to a deliberate act, and the man was arrested and brought before the Heraklion Public Prosecutor’s Office. He was formally charged with attempted murder and was granted time to submit his defense statement on Tuesday.

Witness accounts and information being examined by authorities suggest there had been prior signs of domestic violence in the household, with relatives and neighbors describing a history of frequent arguments and tension in the home. Police are continuing to investigate the case, exploring all possible angles.