The Civil Guard team from the Talavera de la Reina Detachment reported a serious road safety incident involving a 60-year-old man who was allegedly driving under the influence. The incident occurred on the A-4 highway near Dos Barrios, as the vehicle, an articulated truck, moved toward Madrid at approximately kilometer 73,400. The impact caused a total road blockage and the overturning of the truck, interrupting traffic flow in both directions. This description reflects the events as they were documented by local authorities and emergency services and is intended to convey the sequence and consequences of the crash for readers seeking a clear factual account.
Late last August, at around 23:00, the Toledo Traffic Operations Center (Cota) received notification of the accident from the 112 emergency service. The report came from the A-4 highway near the Dos Barrios municipal border, at the 73,400‑kilometer mark. The news prompted a rapid response from multiple patrols of the Civil Guard who arrived at the scene to assess the situation and secure the area. A key concern was to restore safety and manage the flow of traffic after the collision between a tourist vehicle and the articulated truck.
When the first units arrived, responders found that the crash had created a complete stoppage along a stretch of the road, hampering passage toward Madrid. Within minutes, traffic was gridlocked by the overturned vehicle and the damaged cargo, affecting nearly two hundred vehicles in the immediate vicinity. Five traffic patrols, supported by Citizen Security officers, coordinated the rescue and control operations. In addition, authorities directed drivers to use alternative routes via the CM-4006 and CM-4005 roads to bypass the closure, with traffic information broadcast through illuminated signage to guide road users away from the blocked corridor.
During the on-site assessment, the Talavera de la Reina Civil Guard team evaluated the driver of the articulated vehicle. Breathalyzer results indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 1.08 mg/L, well above permissible limits and well above the thresholds established for professional drivers. The standard limit for professional drivers is 0.30 g/L in blood or 0.15 mg/L in breath. Excessive alcohol levels are a serious violation that impairs safe operation of heavy vehicles and endangers all road users. The incident underscores the strict enforcement framework in place for commercial drivers and the emphasis on preventing impaired driving on major arteries such as the A-4.
Under current regulations, the 1.08 mg/L breath alcohol concentration confirmed that the driver was in breach of the governing rules for operating freight vehicles with a Maximum Authorized Mass above 3,500 kg or passenger transport vehicles with more than nine seats. This finding reinforces the responsibility of operators and drivers to comply with established safety standards and the penalties that apply in cases of gross impairment. Authorities documented the circumstances of the incident and prepared all required procedural steps to address the offense appropriately, including the legal review of the driver’s actions and responsibilities at the relevant Court of First Instance and with the Guardia de Ocaña Instruction.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the drivers involved at the scene. The authorities proceeded with the investigation into the road-safety offense tied to driving under the influence, aligning with the broader objective of protecting motorists on busy corridors like the A-4. The sequence of events was communicated by the Civil Guard through an official update, and the case continues under formal judicial processes to determine accountability and any resulting sanctions. The incident demonstrates the rapid coordination between emergency services, traffic patrols, and road managers to clear the disruption and restore normal traffic as swiftly as possible, while ensuring safety and compliance with alcohol-related driving laws. [Citation: Guardia Civil, local press release]