Fatal bus accident in the Pyrénées-Orientales: driver detained after testing positive for cocaine

A serious bus accident that occurred on Sunday, December 1, in Porté-Puymorens, Pyrénées-Orientales, claimed the lives of two people and left several others injured. The bus, carrying mainly Colombian tourists, was en route from Barcelona to Pas de la Casa in Andorra when the tragedy struck.

Multiple irregularities found on the vehicle

The investigation revealed several serious breaches concerning the vehicle. The bus was operating without a valid technical inspection, and its tachograph—a device used to record speed and driving times—had been deactivated.

The driver, a 50-year-old Spanish national, tested positive for benzoylecgonine (BZE), a cocaine metabolite, indicating recent consumption. He has been charged and placed in provisional detention for “involuntary manslaughter aggravated by drug use and the deliberate violation of a safety obligation,” as well as for “endangering the lives of others.”

Circumstances of the accident

Preliminary findings suggest that the bus veered off its lane before crashing into a cliff around 5 p.m. on a mountain road at an altitude of over 1,600 meters. The impact ripped off an entire side of the vehicle. Witnesses reported seeing “zigzagging” on the road shortly before the collision.

Human toll

There were 48 passengers on board. Among them, two were killed, and several others were injured. A total of 32 victims were hospitalized in Spain, while nine were treated in France. Six people remain hospitalized in France, according to the latest updates from the prosecutor’s office.

Most passengers were Colombians residing in Spain, but the group also included one Spanish national, one Moroccan, and one Ecuadorian.

Ongoing investigation

The judicial investigation, assigned to the Marseille prosecutor’s office specializing in collective accidents, was launched on Wednesday, December 4. It aims to determine the exact causes of the accident and establish the responsibilities involved, including those of the trip’s organizer.