José Antonio Campal, who led Bernabé Campal and helped shape Salamanca province’s agricultural economy, died at 54 in a motorcycle accident near Vitoria-Gasteiz. The news hit Huerta, where his family business is based, then spread through a region that relied on his work and leadership.
The accident happened on Saturday at around 12:40 pm, as Campal left the AP-1 for the N-622. He was returning from a motorcycle trip through Europe with his brother Pedro and a friend; all three were riding their own bikes. Emergency crews arrived quickly, but a doctor confirmed his death at the scene. The Ertzaintza’s Álava Traffic Unit is still investigating the cause of the crash, information from Spanish media and official statements from the Departamento de Seguridad.
For Salamanca’s agricultural sector, the loss is both personal and practical. Under the joint leadership of José Antonio and his brother, Bernabé Campal has grown into one of the most impressive agro-industrial companies in Castilla y León. Some reports cite “more than 18 storage centers,” “turnover exceeding 400 million euros” and “over 3.5% of the national market,” but official company data has not confirmed those figures. The company handles cereals and seeds, along with fertilizers and other basic products, supplying farmers across Spain and Portugal. Its operations support hundreds of rural families and underpin a large part of the region’s economy.
Earlier in 2024, CEOE CEPYME Salamanca recognized Bernabé Campal for its contribution to the primary sector and local development, including job creation. José Antonio accepted the award with his brother, in what became his last public recognition.
The timing of the accident made the news especially difficult. Salamanca was celebrating its Ferias y Fiestas in honor of the Virgen de la Vega when the news broke, casting a shadow over the festivities. Business leaders and public officials sent condolences. Javier Iglesias, president of the Diputación de Salamanca, called Campal “a reference point for the agro-industrial fabric of Salamanca and a person deeply committed to the province’s progress.”
The crash occurred at the AP-1 exit to the N-622 near Vitoria-Gasteiz, and the Ertzaintza’s traffic division is still investigating. Salamancartvaldia.es reported that the news hit especially hard in Las Villas and Huerta, where the Campal family and their business have longstanding ties to the community.
On Sunday, the San Carlos Borromeo funeral home in Salamanca became a gathering place for relatives and colleagues, while friends came to terms with the sudden loss. The funeral is set for Tuesday, though its location remains private. Salamanca is saying goodbye to a man closely associated with rural progress and business initiative.
Campal’s story shows how Spain’s agricultural sector depends on people willing to invest in their communities and take risks, alongside the land and equipment those businesses need. His absence will be felt in Huerta and across the fields and warehouses that relied on his decisions. The region now faces the task of sustaining the momentum he built without the man who led it.
