The incident in Calvià, Mallorca, marks a tragic chapter in a rare yet impactful category of traffic accidents involving a scooter. Families pursuing compensation of 450,000 euros are taking the case to court, arguing that the mishap was not caused by rider error but by the poor state of the pavement where the scooter traveled. This is a suit directed at the city hall that governs the area where the accident unfolded, emphasizing that municipal maintenance failures contributed to the fatal outcome. The focus is on the pavement’s condition in the Portals area, a corridor that local residents and relatives say should have been kept safer for all road users, including scooter riders who share the same urban spaces as pedestrians and cyclists.
The deceased was identified as Mark Blasco, a well-known figure in Calvià, recognized not only as a businessman but also as someone who advocated for local economic activity and community well-being. He was 53 years old when the tragedy occurred in June of the previous year. On his way to work, Blasco rode a scooter at a modest speed by urban standards, yet a single hazard altered the course of his life. Reports describe him traveling at approximately 25 kilometers per hour when he encountered a hole in the asphalt. The obstacle caused him to lose control, and he was thrown from the scooter. As he fell, his head struck the hard pavement with force, leading to severe injuries that swiftly diminished his consciousness. Despite the efforts of medical teams, Blasco did not recover and passed away several days later after the accident.
Relatives, including representatives for his children and other family members, have filed a property-related lawsuit against the administration. Their argument centers on the belief that the accident should be attributed to the pavement’s poor condition rather than to rider error. They seek accountability from the local government for the perceived lapse in maintenance that may have endangered the lives of people using the sidewalk and adjacent lanes where scooters navigate alongside pedestrians.
Local police officers who attended the scene confirmed that the portion of the pavement upon which the scooter traveled showed signs of being raised. The appearance of an elevated section in the walking area has been cited by the family as evidence that the municipality should have addressed the hazard sooner. In the days following the incident, municipal workers repaired the affected section, which some observers interpret as an admission that the pavement had been in a defective state at the time of the crash. This repair, however, is argued by the plaintiffs to underscore the broader issue of maintenance and timely intervention in potentially dangerous street conditions.
Because the case is a civil action directed at the city administration, the proceedings involve careful legal review. The Consell Consultiu has been called upon to assess the claim and to determine what kinds of technical analyses and expert reports are necessary to evaluate the circumstances that led to the accident. The family has requested a comprehensive set of technical information that would illuminate the conditions of the road and the sequence of events that culminated in the rider’s injuries. A report prepared by technical experts concluded that the crash occurred on a straight stretch with good visibility after a long bend. The assessment suggests that the rider may not have perceived the change in road surface until the hazard was directly underfoot, highlighting how certain infrastructure features can create sudden risk for scooter riders moving through urban corridors.
Municipal technicians have noted that the crack in the asphalt appeared to be a recent development that can emerge when temperatures rise, a phenomenon not uncommon in hot climates. Calvià town hall has consistently denied any responsibility for the accident, arguing that road design and maintenance decisions fall within broader jurisdiction and budgetary considerations. The ongoing dispute thus centers on whether the city should have foreseen the hazard and taken preventive action, or whether the condition constituted an unforeseeable risk that fell outside municipal control. The broader context involves balancing rapid urban mobility with safety standards for all who travel through city streets and sidewalks, including scooter riders who are increasingly common in Mediterranean tourist areas and other urban centers across the region.