The defense for the CM, the driver of the bus involved in the Christmas Eve tragedy in Cerdedo-Cotobade, rejects the conclusions drawn in the expert report released last Thursday by Pedro Blanco, the government delegate in Galicia. The report, compiled by Civil Guard technicians, attributes the fatal crash to excessive speed, a claim central to the ongoing investigation that has left seven people dead.
Sources consulted by Europa Press from members of the motoring community express skepticism about the notion that the bus left the road due to speeding. They note that the report lacks the calculations or data needed to establish a speed-based causation. This uncertainty persists in the document held by Pontevedra court number 1, the court responsible for the case’s investigation and ongoing proceedings. The community argues that meteorological conditions should be considered as a possible primary factor in what happened on the night of December 24, 2022.
Officials note that heavy rain and reduced visibility prevailed that night, raising the possibility that the bus could have aquaplaned on a water-filled road bend shortly before the entrance to the Pedre bridge. According to the driver’s defense, the bus then plunged from a height of 29 meters into the Lérez river bed after leaving the roadway near the bridge. This sequence of events is based on the driver’s initial statement, given at the Civil Guard headquarters on December 30, six days after the accident. The defense intends to back this version with two expert reports that challenge the facts asserted by the Civil Guard, arguing that there is no data to support a claim that the bus exceeded 80 kilometers per hour, the speed limit at that point.
Preservation of Evidence and Its Implications
The driver’s attorney questions the handling of critical evidence, raising concerns about the tachograph removed from the water after the crash and later deemed potentially unusable. The defense also scrutinizes the chain of custody surrounding the vehicle, arguing that the bus should not have been moved to the Monbus company facilities in Pontevedra, given that Monbus is the operator of the route involved in the incident.
At Monbus’ Lourizán garage, Civil Security technicians conducted inspections of the bus to extract information for their investigative report on the accident’s causes. The vehicle’s condition has become a key talking point, with the defense arguing that the bus showed signs of technical problems in the days leading up to the crash. This perspective supports the broader claim that the Civil Guard’s conclusions may have overlooked critical factors related to the vehicle’s state and maintenance history.
The defense reiterates its direct opposition to the Civil Guard’s conclusions, insisting that the report seems aimed at establishing the driver’s responsibility while not adequately considering the broader context. In particular, the defense contends that factors such as the bus’s condition and the weather conditions on that December night were not sufficiently examined or weighed. This stance underscores a broader demand for a more comprehensive assessment that integrates vehicle performance, road conditions, and environmental factors to determine the true sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
Observers note that the case remains a focal point for discussions about road safety, vehicle maintenance, and emergency response protocols in severe weather. The evolving narrative highlights how investigative findings can shape legal arguments and public understanding during high-profile transport accidents. The parties involved emphasize the need for clear, verifiable data and a careful consideration of all potential contributing factors, including the weather, road design, vehicle condition, and human decision-making under stress.
In the meantime, the Pontevedra court continues to oversee the process, awaiting further expert inputs and technical analyses. The outcome will likely determine not only liability for the crash but also the broader consequences for bus operators, regulatory oversight, and safety practices along similar routes in Galicia and beyond. The case remains a stark reminder that multiple factors can converge in complex road incidents, and a single causal narrative may not adequately capture the full truth of what happened that Christmas Eve.