A high-speed police chase on Spain’s Costa del Sol ended in tragedy on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of four people. The incident occurred when a van carrying three suspected ram raiders collided with an off-duty police officer's vehicle while attempting to evade authorities.
The Deadly Chase
The pursuit began after police responded to an alarm at a pharmacy in the Puerto de la Torre area of Malaga around 5 am. The suspects had broken into the pharmacy, deactivating security shutters and forcing the front door. Although they failed to open the safe, they fled the scene along the A7 coastal motorway towards Marbella, with police in hot pursuit.
In a desperate attempt to escape, the van swerved onto the wrong side of the motorway near Torremolinos. This reckless maneuver resulted in a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by Antonio, a 48-year-old off-duty police officer. The impact was devastating, and Antonio's car caught fire.
Four Lives Lost
Tragically, all three suspects in the van are believed to have died instantly. Firefighters were called to the scene to extract their bodies from the wreckage. Antonio, a member of the Gotham Group, a secret unit combating crime in the tourist area, was pulled from his vehicle by local police but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Malaga emergency services confirmed his death.
Police investigators found stolen tools in the suspects’ vehicle, confirming their involvement in a series of pharmacy break-ins. Authorities believe the gang was responsible for numerous night-time ram raids in the Malaga area.
Condolences and Grief
The National Police Force and the SUP, a Spanish police officers’ union, have expressed their deepest condolences to Antonio’s family, colleagues, and friends. The interior ministry stated the government was “deeply saddened by Antonio’s death”. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The Victims
- Antonio, 48-year-old off-duty police officer
- Three suspected ram raiders (identities currently unreleased)