On November 16, 2024, a speedboat believed to be involved in drug-trafficking resulted in a fatal collision on the RM-12 motorway near La Manga resort, Murcia, Spain. The crash claimed the lives of two British men and left a third critically injured. The local authorities have identified the deceased victims by their initials, P.D., 49, and J.W., 57. The injured individual, I.P., 54, remains in a critical state.
The British men were traveling in a Seat Leon during a golf trip when the 32-foot speedboat, referred to as a “narco lancha,” became unattached from its trailer while traveling at high speed, colliding with their vehicle.
The collision led to a six-vehicle pileup, causing minor injuries to eight other individuals. First responders spent 30 minutes extricating people from their vehicles. Four people, two women aged 18 and 55, and two men aged 19 and 29, received medical treatment at a hospital in Cartagena.
The speedboat, a type often used in drug smuggling operations, was equipped with two engines, each producing 300 horsepower, and lacked a registration number. It is believed that the boat was being transported to a nearby beach for a smuggling operation. The SUV pulling the boat left the scene, abandoning both the vehicle and the speedboat. Authorities are utilizing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the suspect.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated, “We are supporting the families of three British nationals following a road traffic incident in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities,” reported.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Spanish authorities have initiated a manhunt and are reviewing video footage from traffic cameras and local businesses to identify the suspect. The RM-12 motorway was closed for three hours as investigators worked at the scene.