Amazingly, the motorist escaped his car relatively unscathed, although he has been charged by police with reckless driving and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
The Skoda Fabia was seen driving on the pavement in Son Veri Nou, Majorca, and reaching 125mph before veering off the cliff.
#GEAS reconoce interior de un vehículo por caída al mar en Mallorca.
— Guardia Civil ���� (@guardiacivil) February 9, 2020
Conductor rescatado del agua por unos jóvenes y evacuado al hospital. Entramos dentro del agua para comprobar si hay más víctimas. Afortunadamente no.
Colabora @BombersDePalma @SAMU061IB #policiaLocalLlucmajor pic.twitter.com/Nh9fi06zgk
Luckily, there were no other passengers in the car with this irresponsible driver at the time.
Police were called to the incident on Sunday 9th February and learnt that pedestrians were forced to dodge the oncoming vehicle as the unnamed driver lost control.
A group of nearby cyclists jumped into the water to rescue the man before local police, the Spanish Civil Guard and firefighters rushed to the scene.
The speed at which it was travelling meant that car and driver landed quite a distance from the cliff edge, despite the rocky exit.
Servicio por caída de coche al mar.
— A.C.i E. (@BombersDePalma) February 9, 2020
Zona Son Veri Nou.
Conductor rescatado del agua por unos jóvenes que corrían por el paseo.
Entramos dentro del agua para comprobar la ausencia de más víctimas en el interior.
Colabora @guardiacivil @SAMU061IB #policiaLocalLlucmajor
Sobre 9:00 pic.twitter.com/7Kx5J9Vldb
Images show vehicle debris near the spot where the car launched off the cliff and the submerged Skoda is clearly visible from above in the clear, shallow water.
The driver, who is from the Spanish island, was rushed to hospital in Son Espases. There have been no further updates on his condition.
The news comes amidst a spike of drug-driving offences in the UK.
Last November the DVLA revealed that the number of motorists convicted for drug-driving had quadrupled in less than two years.
The surge in statistics has been attributed to an increase in enforcement from the police.
- Drug-driving laws: what you need to know
- Driving in Spain
- Speeding fines – how much you now have to pay
It’s illegal to drive in Scotland, England and Wales with legal drugs in your body if it impairs your driving.
Ask your doctor whether you should drive if you’ve been prescribed any of the following:
- amphetamine, for example dexamphetamine or selegiline
- clonazepam
- diazepam
- flunitrazepam
- lorazepam
- methadone
- morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs, for example codeine, tramadol or fentanyl
- oxazepam
- temazepam
Failing to inform the DVLA of a medical condition, or a prescription that could affect your driving, can incur a fine of up to £1000.
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