Else Beekman
A routine morning turned into chaos when a car crashed into a bar terrace in Torre de Benagalbón, injuring four members of the same family, two of them seriously.
It was just before 9:40 am when the peace of Avenida de la Axarquía, a well-frequented commercial street in Rincón de la Victoria, was shattered. A car suddenly veered off the road, mounted the pavement, and slammed into the front of a café. Witnesses recalled a scene of panic, with screams filling the air and people fleeing as the vehicle struck a table where a group were enjoying their breakfast.
Lottery vendor narrowly avoids accident
Celia Colomera, a lottery vendor with ONCE, was metres away when it happened. “I had just passed by selling coupons,” she told Málaga Hoy. “I was in another bar when I heard shouting. It could have been me, I’m usually walking up and down all morning.”
According to Colomera, the female driver had reversed out of a parking space and collided with another vehicle. In a panic, she reportedly hit the accelerator instead of the brake, losing control and crashing into the terrace. “She was nervous, and automatic cars can pick up speed quickly,” said the witness. “She ran over a family of five or six. Fortunately, no one was sitting at the next table.”
Emergency services respond swiftly
Emergency calls quickly flooded in, prompting a response from Local Police, Guardia Civil, firefighters, and health workers from the 061 emergency service. Fearing people may have been trapped, firefighters from the Provincial Consortium were also deployed.
Paramedics evacuated two women, aged 46 and 61, and two men, aged 35 and 48, to Málaga’s Regional Hospital. The driver, who reportedly suffered a panic attack and lost consciousness while still inside the vehicle, also required assistance.
A normally quiet area
The car crash took place in an area described by locals as typically peaceful, though witnesses noted that a previous crash had occurred recently due to poor visibility at a nearby junction. The damaged car was later removed by tow truck as investigators remained on site to support emergency teams and assess the situation.
Sources: Málaga Hoy, Diario SUR
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