In mid-August, a troubling incident unfolded on the A-7 near Alicante, involving a driver who moved in the opposite direction and exhibited clear signs of intoxication. The Alicante Prosecutor’s Office has requested a prison sentence of up to one year, followed by a more substantial term of four and a half years, reflecting the severity of reckless driving that led to a head-on collision with a minibus. The incident, which occurred in the early hours, left the passenger of the minibus needing medical attention but thankfully without life-threatening injuries. The case recently reached a turning point as a court in Alicante closed the investigation and referred the matter to a criminal court to proceed with trial. A judge ordered detention on the spot, amounting to a 2,000 euro deposit, before the accused was released after arrest and subsequent release the following day.
The indictment presented by this newspaper details how the defendant drove several kilometers against traffic on the A-7, showing a disregard for the safety of other road users. On the route, vehicles had to execute evasive maneuvers to avoid a head-on collision with the defendant’s car. The minibus, traveling in the opposite direction, could not avoid the impact when the two vehicles collided after approximately 490 kilometers of travel. The prosecution notes that the driver’s license was severely impaired by alcohol consumption, which dulled reflexes and judgment, increasing the risk of unpredictable outcomes on the road.
Traffic supervisors from the Civil Guard reported that a person present at the scene observed obvious signs of intoxication and administered a breathalyzer test. The result was positive, showing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.77 milligrams of alcohol per liter of inhaled air. This figure underscores the severity of intoxication during the incident and supports the charges filed by the authorities. [Citation: Civil Guard report, Alicante, 2021]
Victim’s injuries
The minibus driver sustained neck and back pain, required rest, and underwent evaluation by a trauma specialist, followed by several rehabilitation sessions. The injured party chose to waive compensation through the insurance system for both the injuries and the damage to the vehicle, a decision noted in the proceedings.
The prosecution accuses the defendant of reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, in competition with serious injuries. The proposed penalties include four and a half years of imprisonment and a 24-month term accompanied by a daily fine of six euros, totaling 4,320 euros. If any installments remain unpaid, the penalty would extend by an additional day of incarceration. The report also calls for the revocation of the driver’s license for ten years, emphasizing the gravity of the actions attributed to the defendant. [Citation: Alicante Prosecutor’s Office, case file 168, 2021]
According to the records, the case will be forwarded to the Criminal Court of First Instance for trial, with the start date to be set in due course. Since the accused was not incarcerated at the time of the filing, the proceedings will proceed in the order of arrival, as is customary for cases of this nature. The exact date will depend on the court’s calendar and the scheduling process. [Citation: Prosecutor’s filing, Alicante, 2021]
The prosecution’s materials indicate that the incident originated in the province of Alicante, contributing to a higher count of careless driving cases in the current year. A total of 168 procedures for careless driving have been recorded, surpassing the 104 filings observed in the previous year. Nonetheless, the Public Ministry notes that 2020 was heavily impacted by mobility restrictions due to the pandemic and a state of alarm, making year-to-year comparisons challenging. [Citation: Public Ministry statistics, Alicante, 2021]