The court has granted conditional release without bail for Jaime AF, a 73-year-old driver facing multiple charges. Sources close to the investigation told EFE on Wednesday that three people were killed Tuesday in Suesa, a locality in Ribamontán al Mar, Cantabria.
The incidents occurred about 0.6 kilometers from the CA-433 regional highway around 8 p.m. on the preceding day. The driver, who reportedly lost control of the steering and veered off the road, struck three pedestrians who were crossing nearby while accompanied by relatives.
Following the impact, as outlined in the Santoña Court of First Instance Order No. 2, the vehicle collided with a container, then moved back into the roadway, and despite being off the road, collided with a second vehicle before crashing into a tree.
The deceased include a 42-year-old woman and her 19-year-old son from Sestao, Vizcaya, and another woman aged 68 from Santo Domingo de la Calzada, La Rioja. A fourth person sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash.
Preliminary tests showed that the driver tested positive for alcohol, with a level described as tripled relative to the legal limit, and for drugs, particularly marijuana.
The court order stipulates that the driver must appear in court weekly and that his license was restored with conditions, including a ban on leaving Spain and the requirement to hand over his passport.
Jaime AF is charged with murder and reckless, careless driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The defense has noted that the individual has undergone psychiatric treatment and has a documented history of depression, including a past suicide attempt.
The presiding judge stated that sending the driver to detention could aggravate his fragile mental state and that the evidence did not indicate an immediate risk of flight or reoffending. He pointed out that the accused has no prior criminal record and is a recognized resident of Suesa, factors considered when deciding that a detention measure would not be proportional at this stage. Weekly court appearances were deemed sufficient monitoring.
Moreover, given the severity of the accident and the driver’s current license status, the prosecutor’s office and the special prosecutor’s office agreed that detention would not be an appropriate response at this time. The decision reflects a cautious balance between public safety concerns and the individual’s health and civil rights, while the investigation continues to determine all contributing factors and circumstances surrounding the collision.
This case highlights ongoing debates about how to handle elderly drivers involved in serious crashes, the role of medical and mental health history in judicial decisions, and the need for consistent monitoring throughout provisional release.
Citation: EFE.