In the early hours of May 30, 1993, a dispute between two acquaintances ended in a chase along the roads of northern Mallorca. A 47-year-old businessman from Campanet died after being dragged by a vehicle. The case, shrouded in judicial controversy, remains largely unresolved.
It was 1993 when Mallorca woke up to news that chilled the blood of many. A 47-year-old businessman from Campanet, well-known on the island, lost his life after a night pursuit that began as a simple feud between two men. The vehicle involved, a Volkswagen Golf GTI, became the unwitting protagonist of a tragic night.
A Tense Early Morning at the Sant Miquel Chapel
It all started around three in the morning on Sunday, May 30. The businessman was accompanied by a British woman when an acquaintance of his, Antonio R.A., appeared nearby. According to witnesses, his intention was to cause trouble and damage the victim's Golf GTI, a symbol of prestige in 1990s Mallorca.
Several neighbours alerted the intruder, who fled at high speed towards the Sant Miquel chapel and then took the road connecting Palma to Port d'Alcúdia. The businessman, alerted to what had happened, decided to pursue him in his powerful Golf GTI. The chase lasted several kilometres until both cars met on the road.
The Fatal Outcome on the Road
According to Antonio R.A.'s account, the businessman managed to catch up and crossed his vehicle in the middle of the road to force him to stop. The businessman got out of his car and approached the stopped vehicle, inserting his arm through the window with the intention of attacking him. At that moment, the driver raised the window, trapping his arm, and started the car, claiming he was terrified.
The businessman was dragged for about twenty metres while one of the wheels ran over his left leg. Finally, the car crashed into a power pole. The scene was horrific. Shortly after, the British woman appeared at the scene and alerted the Guardia Civil of sa Pobla, the Local Police, and emergency services.
Admission and Death at Son Dureta
When the patrol arrived, both men were together by the wrecked vehicles. The businessman had life-threatening injuries and was urgently evacuated to Son Dureta hospital, where he remained for two days. Medical efforts could not stabilise him, and he ultimately passed away. His death caused immense shock in Campanet and throughout Mallorca, where he was a well-known figure.
Antonio R.A. was arrested as the presumed responsible party, but the case took an unexpected turn. His lawyer, Antoni Albertí, argued that his client had acted in self-defence, feeling attacked by the victim. This thesis was initially accepted by the judicial authority, which decided to release the detainee while the investigation continued.
A Case That Still Raises Questions
That decision sparked intense social debate in a Mallorca still in shock. The personal dispute, the night pursuit, and the extraordinarily violent accident turned this event into one of the most remembered from the early nineties on the island. To this day, many uncertainties about the case remain unresolved. For the residents of Campanet, that early morning remains an indelible memory of how a feud can end in tragedy.
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