A 42-year-old truck driver has been sentenced to three months in prison and a fine of €2,160 for hitting a man on a farm in Llucmajor and leaving him unconscious. The accused, who lacked a driving licence, accepted the facts during the trial held this Wednesday at the Palma Court.
The Palma Court has imposed a sentence of three months in prison and a fine of €2,160 on the truck driver who hit a man on a farm in Llucmajor and fled the scene, leaving the victim unconscious. The accused, 42 years old and of Spanish nationality, admitted to the crimes of leaving the scene of the accident and violating road safety by driving without a licence.
An accident with the truck in motion
The events occurred around 2:00 PM on October 9, 2021 on the Ma-5020 road, at kilometre point 01.100. The accused, whose licence had been revoked due to a previous offence of driving under the influence of alcohol, was heading to a farm in the area. At 2:10 PM, before leaving, he briefly got out of the vehicle with the engine running and the handbrake engaged.
A brake failure caused the truck to roll back and hit the victim, who was unable to avoid it. The driver pulled the man from under the vehicle and, seeing that he was unresponsive, fled the scene, leaving him lying unconscious on the ground.
Neighbours assist the victim hours later
The victim, who suffered serious injuries such as a pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, and multiple fractures, was found around 5:00 PM by neighbours from adjacent farms who heard his cries for help as he regained consciousness. He was taken to a hospital, where the injuries took over two years to heal and have left him with permanent consequences.
The truck driver’s insurance has compensated the victim with €370,339 for the injuries and consequences. Additionally, the accused deposited €30,000 before the trial as compensation for damages, which the court considered a mitigating factor.
Consequences for the driver and the community
The court ruling serves as a example of the penal response to irresponsible behaviour behind the wheel. For the residents of Llucmajor, the case highlights the importance of road safety on secondary roads and the need to report any incident that puts pedestrians at risk. The sentence includes a one-year driving ban and the obligation to pay court costs.
The truck driver will enter prison in the coming days, although due to the short sentence, he may request a semi-liberty regime. Meanwhile, the victim continues his recovery with the support of the compensation received.
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