A 26-year-old man from Barcelona died in a traffic crash on a highway near the airport in Ibiza on a Monday afternoon. The incident unfolded around 20:20 as the young man crossed or moved into the roadway near the E-20 corridor, close to the TapaTapa roundabout, and suddenly found himself in the path of a taxi traveling through the central median. He was struck and, moments later, was drawn into the path of another vehicle as he fell beneath the wheels of a passing car. The sequence of events left little time for anyone to react and ended in tragedy on the shoulder of a busy road.
Witnesses recall the moment with a shock that lingers. A taxi driver involved in the incident described his initial confusion and fear. He said he saw the boy on the road and thought that someone might run him over. The driver, who managed to steer clear of the most dangerous path, recounted feeling a jolt as a broken left mirror struck the vehicle during the encounter. The driver added that he had just managed to slow down and pull away, but the young man continued moving in a way that suggested he was not fully aware of his surroundings after the impact.
According to those at the scene, the young man appeared to be disoriented, unable to continue after the initial collision with the rearview mirror of the taxi. He was later seen attempting to stand, but the next moment brought another brutal contact as he was thrown or dragged under another vehicle. The sequence of events left bystanders stunned and voice-filled with concern as the driver of the second vehicle described how the boy was swept under the car during the moment of impact.
The young man died almost instantly. Medical personnel arrived and began life-saving measures, but the injuries were severe and incompatible with life. Paramedics attempted resuscitation, but their efforts were not enough, and the death was confirmed at the scene.
Lack of attention on the road
The taxi driver later spoke about the broader issue of road safety and supervision in the area. He expressed remorse for what happened and admitted feeling relief that he had managed to avoid the most dangerous contact, yet he also mourned for the young man and for his own family. He noted that the pedestrian had been crossing the road in an area with limited controls and expressed frustration that no one intervened earlier. His observations underscored a concern that better vigilence and preventative measures could prevent similar tragedies.
According to authorities, the road environment at the scene seemed to have contributed to the incident. Civil Guard agents, Sant Josep Local Police, and two ambulances attended the crash, but the delays in response did not alter the final outcome. The Civil Guard Judicial Police led the investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and assess any contributing factors. The focus of the inquiry included whether proper pedestrian protections and traffic management measures were in place to reduce the risk of such accidents.
Credit: Civil Guard report and local authorities.