Lorraine Williamson
Long before Friday’s fatal accident on the CV-905, residents of Torrevieja had been growing uneasy about the declining condition of the palms lining some of the town’s busiest routes. Years of battling the invasive red palm weevil have left thousands of trees across the Vega Baja weakened, while increasingly sharp gusts of autumn wind continue to place extra strain on already fragile urban greenery.
That long-running environmental problem turned deadly late on 14 November, when a 22-year-old man died after a palm tree crashed onto his car as he travelled along the CV-905 near the Carrefour retail area. The shock of the incident — sudden, violent and impossible for the young driver to avoid — has prompted soul-searching in a community where palms are both a symbol of place and, increasingly, a maintenance challenge.
A routine drive turned catastrophic
Traffic was heavy at around five in the afternoon when witnesses saw the palm topple from the central reservation. Bystanders called for help within seconds, and emergency services — firefighters, Guardia Civil officers, local police and a SAMU team — arrived almost immediately. Despite their rapid coordination, there was little they could do. The impact had caused catastrophic injuries, and the driver died at the scene.
Residents who saw the rescue attempt described the atmosphere as tense and bewildered, with many shaken by how quickly a familiar road had become the scene of a fatal accident.
A tree weakened from within
Early assessments point to a grimly familiar culprit: the red palm weevil. The beetle, which bores deep into palms, hollowing them from the inside, has devastated urban and coastal landscapes across Alicante for more than a decade. From the outside, infected palms often appear stable right up until the moment they give way.
Strong winds were recorded in the Torrevieja area on Friday afternoon. Investigators believe the gusts may have been enough to push a structurally compromised tree past its limit — a collapse waiting for the wrong moment to occur.
Local concern grows over road-side maintenance
The tragedy has ignited debate over the state of trees along the CV-905 and other major access routes. Torrevieja residents have long called for more systematic inspections in areas where palms line busy roads, especially during periods of high winds. While the red palm weevil has been aggressively targeted by regional authorities, its spread and damage remain difficult to control.
In response, the town hall has announced a review of roadside palms, beginning with major arteries where traffic is densest. Officials say the assessment will determine whether additional pruning, felling or pest-management measures are needed.
A region facing a wider environmental challenge
Alicante’s coastline was transformed decades ago by ambitious palm-planting programmes intended to beautify boulevards and shade new neighbourhoods. Today, many of those same trees face structural decline due to disease, drought stress and climate-related extremes.
The loss of the 22-year-old driver has amplified calls for a more urgent and coordinated response. Neighbours say that, while urban trees are vital to the region’s identity, maintaining them in a period of shifting weather patterns and persistent infestations demands closer monitoring and faster intervention.
Growing pressure for change
The Torrevieja palm collapse tragedy has left the community grieving and seeking answers. As investigators complete their report, local authorities face mounting questions about whether this accident could have been prevented — and how to ensure others are not put at risk when the next storm arrives.
Source: La Sexta