A tragic accident on a Murcia highway on Saturday evening has left two dead and six others injured, after a suspected narco boat being transported by a trailer detached and caused a multi-car collision. The incident occurred on the RM-12 road near El Algar, Cartagena, heading towards La Manga.
The narco boat, reportedly a high-speed “narcolancha” used for drug trafficking, fell from the trailer. Herewith, triggering a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles. The two deceased victims have been identified as women in their forties, according to newspaper El Mundo based on regional emergency services. Four others were seriously injured, and two remain in critical condition.
Chaos and emergency response
The regional emergency hotline received over thirty distress calls at around 9.32 pm, describing a scene of chaos. Witnesses reported that up to eight vehicles were involved in the pile-up. Some flipped over and others collided into one another after the boat abruptly fell onto the highway. Several occupants were trapped inside their vehicles, and emergency services rushed to the scene.
The Guardia Civil, along with firefighters and medical teams, responded swiftly. Firefighters worked to clear debris and remove the fallen vessel, while paramedics provided immediate assistance. Four of the injured—two women aged 18 and 55, along with two men aged 19 and 29—were transferred to the Hospital Santa Lucía in Cartagena. Furthermore, a 51-year-old man was taken to the Hospital La Arrixaca in Murcia for further treatment.
Suspects of the deadly crash at large
Following the crash, the individuals transporting the boat fled the scene in a separate vehicle. Law enforcement officials have yet to identify or locate the suspects, but investigations are ongoing. Authorities suspect the boat was being used for narcotics smuggling. This practice is not uncommon in the region, where drug traffickers often use small, fast boats to evade authorities.
The 112 emergency service has advised motorists to avoid the area and to seek alternative routes while investigations continue and the scene is cleared. The Guardia Civil is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Also read: Guardia civil seizes 35 drug boats and detains 46 in anti-narcotics operation in Andalucía