Palma incident leaves one dead

A man suspected of being the driver of a car which hit and killed one and seriously hurt another was found to have cocaine in his system.

In the incident in Palma the two men were hit before the driver ran away on foot as his car was too badly damaged from the impact.

The alleged driver has a record of reckless driving and had had his license suspended after another hit and run case in which he was involved.

Judge Jose Castro, due to the elevated risk of the driver running again and the severity of the incident, has ordered he be remanded in custody accused of negligent homicide and causing reckless harm to others.

The driver commented:  “I’m very sorry. It was very dark and I didn’t see them. I knew one of them. When I saw him I went into shock”.

The incident took place on the old road of Sineu: the MA-3011. The rider of a Suzuki, Raul G.O. 32, stopped due to a break down – another motorcyclist who was passing by stopped to help him.

The two victims were standing by the side of the road when a Citroen Xsara ran them over.

The brutality of the impact made the rider go right through the windscreen and end up with half of his body in the passenger seat – the other victim was thrown several metres through the air and landed by the side of the road.

The driver of the car then fled on foot with one of the victims still protruding from his windscreen.

Despite the efforts of the Ib-Salut ambulance service, they were unable to save his life. The other victim was taken immediately to the ICU of Son Espases Hospital where he remains.

The Guardia Civil set up road blocks to find the fleeing driver who they suspected to be a local security guard, aged 28.

They arrested a man who was breathalysed and found to be clear of alcohol but gave a positive reading for cocaine.

They took his statement and then took him to prison where he will remain until the case comes to court.