A car accident on the A-67 has left the Ribera del Duero wine community in mourning. Iván Sanz Cid, his wife, and two of their children died. Only the youngest daughter survived and remains hospitalized.
The Ribera del Duero region is reeling after a devastating road accident on the A-67 near Palencia claimed the lives of Iván Sanz Cid, director general of Dehesa de los Canónigos, his wife Irene Garijo, and two of their three children. The family was returning to Valladolid from Cantabria on Sunday when their vehicle veered off the highway at kilometer 83, overturning several times. The youngest daughter, aged 9, was the sole survivor and was airlifted to Burgos hospital, where she underwent surgery and is reported to be in stable but serious condition.
Authorities responded to the crash at 16:20, with initial investigations by the Government Subdelegation suggesting driver drowsiness as a possible cause. The incident occurred almost exactly one month after a similar fatal accident at kilometer 82 of the same highway, where another driver lost control and died. This pattern has intensified scrutiny of the A-67, a major route connecting northern Spain, and has prompted renewed calls for improved road safety measures in the area.
Iván Sanz Cid was a prominent figure in the Spanish wine industry, widely respected for his leadership at Dehesa de los Canónigos and his commitment to promoting Ribera del Duero wines. Tributes have poured in from across the sector, with colleagues describing him as generous, hardworking, and deeply dedicated to his family and business. The loss has been described as a profound shock not only for his relatives but for the entire region. Sanz, originally from Pesquera de Duero, was known for his close ties to the local community and his efforts to elevate the reputation of his family’s winery alongside his sister Belén and their parents.
The tragedy has also touched public institutions. Irene Garijo, the late wife of Sanz, worked for the Diputación de Valladolid in the Sociedad Avanza. Local and regional officials, including the Minister of Transport Óscar Puente and the President of the Junta de Castilla y León Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, expressed condolences on social media. Conrado Íscar, president of the Diputación de Valladolid, highlighted the deep sense of loss felt by colleagues and friends, emphasizing the lasting impact on those who knew the family.
In the context of recent road incidents in Spain, this accident echoes concerns raised by other serious crashes, such as the bus collision in Lleida that left dozens injured and prompted a swift emergency response. For more on how such incidents have affected communities and authorities, see this report on the aftermath of the Lleida bus crash.
The wake for the four victims will be held in Valladolid, where the family resided. The community continues to support the surviving daughter as she recovers, while questions remain about the safety of the A-67 and the measures needed to prevent further tragedies on Spanish roads. The repeated accidents at nearly the same location underscore the urgent need for authorities to assess risk factors and consider additional interventions to protect travelers on this key transport corridor.
Spain’s highways, particularly those connecting major regions, have seen a series of high-profile accidents in recent years. The A-67, known as the Autovía de la Meseta, is a critical link between Cantabria and central Spain, carrying significant passenger and freight traffic. While overall road safety in Spain has improved over the past decade, isolated stretches with recurring incidents highlight ongoing challenges. The loss of a leading figure like Iván Sanz Cid brings renewed attention to the human cost of such tragedies and the importance of sustained vigilance on the nation’s roads.
