A tragedy occurred on Sunday evening in Ontinyent (Valencia): a car with three people inside plunged off a bridge into the Clariano River. As a result of the accident, a 45-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman died, according to investigation sources and the Emergency Information and Coordination Center (CICU). The driver, who was unharmed, was detained after a drug test returned positive.
The incident happened around 17:25 on the bridge on Camí del Carril, where the car veered off the road and fell into the water. Three firefighting crews from Xàtiva and Ontinyent responded, along with a sergeant from Alzira, rescuers from the Specialist High-Altitude Rescue Group (GERA), and a helicopter with a doctor onboard. Additional units from Alicante were also involved—this is standard protocol for border areas between provinces.
Firefighters rescued all three occupants from the vehicle. Two passengers died at the scene, while the driver remained uninjured. According to investigators, he was detained by the Civil Guard after a rapid test detected the presence of narcotics. All the circumstances of the incident and the role of each participant are now under investigation.
The incident has caused a stir in the region, where road safety and driver oversight remain in the spotlight. It is worth noting that previous discussions in Valencia have addressed the responsibility of authorities and the impact of tragedies on residents—for example, when victims of flooding and other incidents demanded an investigation and change.
According to the CICU, rescue services followed standard protocol for such accidents, allowing search and rescue operations to be organized quickly. Regional authorities emphasize the importance of following traffic regulations and regularly monitoring drivers’ condition, especially on challenging sections of roads and bridges.
