Drunk driver arrested who was driving in the opposite direction on the Ma-15 and collided head-on with a van

Frontal accidentThe Civil Guard has arrested a 55-year-old man for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and in the wrong direction on the Ma-15 road, where he collided head-on with a delivery van. The events took place during the early hours of Friday, at kilometer point 12.4, at the beginning of the Xorrigo hills.

The man was driving towards Palma on the Manacor road when he collided head-on with a van that was traveling correctly along the road. According to a statement from the armed institute, several drivers had alerted emergency services after seeing the car moving in the opposite direction.

Following the alerts, several patrols from the Balearic Traffic Department were activated to try and intercept the vehicle. However, before the officers could locate him, the head-on collision with the delivery vehicle occurred. The Civil Guard highlighted that the lack of light, along with the characteristics of the road layout, on a downward slope, significantly increased the risk of the accident.

Two injured transferred to the hospital

As a result of the impact, the driver of the car suffered injuries of reserved prognosis, while the driver of the van was slightly injured. Both were transported by ambulance to different hospital centers.

After the accident, the driver of the car tested positive in the breathalyzer tests, with a rate much higher than the permitted legal limit. Once the corresponding proceedings were instructed, the Civil Guard arrested him as the alleged perpetrator of two crimes against road safety: reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Subsequently, he was brought to court. Driving under the influence of alcohol, covered in article 379.2 of the penal code, can entail prison sentences of three to six months, a fine of six to twelve months, or community service of 31 to 90 days, in addition to the withdrawal of the driver's license for one to four years.

The crime of reckless driving, article 380, can entail prison sentences of six months to two years and the deprivation of the right to drive motor vehicles for one to six years. The Civil Guard has taken advantage of the events to remind that driving after having consumed alcohol represents a danger to the driver themselves and to the rest of the road users. The armed institute insists that the only truly safe rate is 0.0.