Emergency services responded to a crash on the AP-1 motorway near Vitoria-Gasteiz on Saturday, but could not save José Antonio Campal. The 54-year-old businessman from Salamanca, who led Bernabé Campal, died at the scene. The accident happened just before 1 p.m., information from El Diario Vasco.
Several Spanish media outlets, citing the Departamento de Seguridad and Ertzaintza, report that the crash occurred around 12:40 p.m. at the AP-1 exit toward N-622 and involved a 54-year-old motorcyclist. Local press in Salamanca identified the victim as Campal. Emergency crews tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several regional news outlets have confirmed that the Ertzaintza traffic division in Álava is investigating the accident.
Campal’s death leaves a gap in the agricultural business community of Castilla y León. As part of Bernabé Campal’s management team, he helped grow the Huerta-based company into a major trader in cereals and legumes, with fertilizers also among its products. The company’s annual turnover exceeds 400 million euros, making it a impressive force in Spain’s agricultural sector.
Bernabé Campal, founded more than 50 years ago, has long supported local farmers with agricultural products and specialized services. Under Campal’s leadership, the company built a reputation for reliability and scale, working with small producers as well as larger operations in the region. Salamanca24horas notes that the company is also active in logistics and storage, while supplying fuel, expanding its role in the rural economy.
The accident happened in daylight on a busy stretch of road. Emergency services responded quickly, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. The news has drawn attention within the agricultural sector of Las Villas and Salamanca. So far, there have been no official statements about succession or changes at Bernabé Campal.
Some reports say Campal was returning from a motorcycle trip across Europe with his brother and a friend, though not all independent Spanish media have carried the detail. Regional press and official sources have consistently reported the accident and identified Campal, while also covering the business impact.
For Salamanca’s agricultural community, Campal’s loss is more than personal. It disrupts business relationships and routines built over decades, raising immediate questions about the future of Bernabé Campal and its supply chains. Others in the sector will be watching how the company adapts in the coming months.
Campal’s death puts Bernabé Campal’s leadership and reputation in focus, beyond its numbers or market share. The company has yet to say how it will maintain stability without the man who helped shape its recent history.
