Oier Montero, now twenty years old, is slowly recovering from severe injuries after a devastating weekend crash. He moved from the intensive care unit to the Bidasoa Hospital ward on Monday, following an emergency admission early Sunday. His family confirms that the memory of the accident remains vivid for him. He was among four Gipuzko residents in a Ford Orion traveling together when a vehicle with French license plates collided with their car. Oier sat in the co-pilot seat. Two friends, Ander and Iñaki, did not survive. Saray, who sat just behind, remains in the intensive care unit at Donostia Hospital. Through it all, Oier has managed to stay conscious and communicate with his family and medical team, a fragile thread keeping them connected to the unfolding drama. Cesar Montero, his father, spoke with the press about his son’s resilience and the moments that followed the crash.
Dramatic scenes followed on the GI-636 highway through Lezo. In a crisis call, Oier’s voice trembled as he said, “Dad, I am falling asleep; Please come, my friend is dead.” Those words came after the collision, when a BMW 116 driven by a 21-year-old French driver heading toward Irun crossed into their path. The other vehicle went off the road near an Errenteria area, and the impact was brutal. The immediate danger and confusion after the crash marked a turning point for everyone involved.
At first, the family worried about one friend who had a history of epilepsy. The father notes that in those initial moments, the full gravity of the situation had not yet sunk in. Oier was transported by ambulance to Bidasoa Hospital, and the family withheld the news of the fatalities until Monday afternoon. The medical team advised him to put away his phone and avoid accident reports, but news of the tragedy could not be ignored, especially since friends were among the victims. The father recounts how he and his son talked through the day’s events as the Ford Orion’s condition became clear to everyone close to the case.
The doctors’ orders were strict, but the human element remained overpowering. Oier’s father recalls the moment when his son asked for help and when doctors suggested the reality of what had happened. The car that carried four Gipuzkoans was severely damaged, and the rescue crews worked quickly to stabilize the scene. The man driving the other vehicle and his two companions were unable to escape the crash with their lives; paramedics tried everything to save them, but Ander and Iñaki died at the scene. Other passengers were transported to Donostia Hospital and Bidasoa District Hospital with varying degrees of injury.
“He had to escape through the window and crawl into the ditch.”
Oier avoided the most serious consequences by a narrow margin. Surgery revealed that his spleen and appendix had to be removed, and his ribs bore the imprint of the seat belt that had kept him alive. His father reports that the tests showed no active bleeding, though pain and recovery remain extensive. The medical team has since removed the emergency tube, and Oier remains under careful supervision as he regains strength.
The survivor’s account includes the moment he tried to open the doors after the crash, only to realize the vehicle was too damaged to exit through conventional means. He chose to escape through a window and crawl toward the roadside gutter, where he managed to dial 911. The father describes how the phone line grew busy with reports from other worried relatives, yet he finally reached his son again and learned that he remained conscious.
In those early hours, the family learned that frightened travelers had fled the scene and that some witnesses offered little help. The father notes that one scooter rider who passed by appeared to show a lack of concern as the scene unfolded, a detail that underscores the chaotic aftermath.
Ertzaintza opened an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. The 21-year-old driver of the other car faces charges related to road safety and a separate murder allegation due to serious negligence. The son’s account suggested that one French passenger attempted to flee down an embankment before the three others debated how to leave the scene, raising questions about responsibility and timing.
A French woman who stopped at the crash site reportedly urged the car’s occupants not to leave the scene. Her plea added to the urgency of the moment as medical teams arrived and began medical interventions. Despite the best efforts of the paramedics, Ander and Iñaki, aged 22 and 20, succumbed to their injuries. Others involved were treated at Donostia Hospital and Bidasoa District Hospital for varying levels of trauma, with gravity levels acknowledged by medical staff.
Later, the father reconnected with his son and heard that he remained alert and communicative with medical personnel. The son, a resident of Blas de Lezo Street in Pasai Antxo, described hearing his friend Saray cry out for help in the immediate aftermath, a moment that left a lasting impression on all who were present. The Ford Orion’s steering column and seat structure were severely compromised, making escape through standard doors impossible.
The family remains supported by a large network of relatives, and the father expresses a mix of relief and sorrow. Although Oier is progressing, there is shared grief for the other families affected. The family hopes that the authorities will determine accountability and address the consequences of the tragedy in a transparent and timely manner. The ongoing recovery process continues as the community reflects on the events of that dawn and the fragile line between survival and loss. The tale of Oier and his friends serves as a stark reminder of the sudden, unpredictable nature of such accidents and the courage shown by those who survive to tell the tale. Cited: local news reports and official statements are acknowledged for the record of events and the progression of the investigation.