Spanish prosecutor: Driver of coach crash SUV could face lengthy prison term

Discussion continues on pros and cons of central barriers

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The driver of the SUV who was apparently responsible for the crash on Saturday that caused the deaths of nine Finnish tourists is likely to be facing charges of dangerous driving, aggravated dangerous driving, or manslaughter, according to traffic safety prosecutor Javier de Torres, contacted in Málaga.
      He believes the two latter charges are most likely, and they carry prison terms of between 4 and 20 years.
      De Torres, who will ultimately be responsible for bringing a case against the driver, spoke to Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday.
     
The prosecutor provided the newspaper with the latest details on the course of Saturday’s fatal crash.
      The SUV, driven by a 27-year-old Spanish man who was found to be under the influence of alcohol, was allegedly driving very fast on the motorway, which has a 120km/h speed limit.
      Eye-witnesses and people who spoke to the driver immediately after the accident have given statements, and one reported that the driver had said he was travelling at around 140 km/h at the time of impact.
      Weather conditions - wind and heavy rain - were hardly conducive to such speeds.
     
The prosecutor rejected the claims made in some quarters that the coach had also been exceeding the speed limit.
      Data from the vehicle’s tachograph indicates the coach was travelling at between 98 and 102 kilometres an hour, he said.
      Nothing has so far come to light in the Guardia Civil investigations to suggest the central reservation barrier - which was a significant factor in raising the number of deaths and injuries - would have been faulty.
      Nevertheless, it broke on impact and the steel bar penetrated the bus with catastrophic results as the vehicle skidded on its side along the road.
     
Accident investigators are baffled at the mysterious disappearance of an assumed second person in the SUV.
      The car’s windscreen was smashed in such a way and location as to suggest a front-seat passenger had hit his head on it.
      Apparently some people spoke with the person after the crash, but he vanished before any personal details could be taken.
      It is also possible that the passenger was taken off to hospital, and may have then discharged himself. Spanish police are looking into the matter. There were some earlier media reports suggesting that the driver’s father was in the car with him, but these have not been confirmed.
     
Javier de Torres also said that statements may be necessary from Finnish individuals who were involved in the accident.
      He did not rule out the fact that requests would be made from those who have already returned home on two earlier special flights, although this would require assistance from the Finnish authorities.
     
Two final reports on the accident should be completed in just over a week.
      One will be presented by the Málaga Guardia Civil’s technical department and one will come from a special accident investigation team sent from Madrid.
     
The role of the crash barrier, which proved deadly in this case, has prompted discussion in Finland of the Finnish Road Administration’s plans to introduce similar barriers on non-motorway roads here, with a view to reducing deaths from head-on collisions.
      The introduction of such barriers is one of the present government’s main focus areas in the field of improving road safety on main highways.
      Experiences in Sweden have shown a substantial reduction in the numbers of serious head-on collisions caused by overtaking on two-lane roads.
      All the evidence suggests that while on this occasion - for reasons as yet unknown - the steel barrier did not perform the required task, it normally serves a very useful purpose.
     
The remaining injured passengers from the Málaga crash will be flown back to Finland at the end of the week at the earliest.
      According to a Finnish doctor currently in Spain, the condition of the 12 Finns still in hospital does not permit their being moved as yet. One woman remains in a coma and in critical condition.
      If the condition of the injured renders medivac flights impossible at the end of this week, a further status examination will be made over the weekend.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Twelve injured coach crash passengers brought home from Spain last night (22.4.2008)
  Families of nine Málaga coach crash victims formally notified on Sunday night (21.4.2008)
  SUNDAY MORNING 1:40: At least nine Finnish tourists dead in Costa del Sol bus crash (20.4.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat