Following Google Maps directions to the letter can lead to serious consequences if one does not ensure that the route is updated and does not put a critical eye on the route indicated by the application. If, in addition, the person driving the vehicle is under the influence of alcohol, the result can be terrible, as happened in Palma this week.
A man was driving a van through the Majorcan capital and, guided by the instructions of his navigator, he ended up stuck on the coast of Sintes, a narrow pedestrian street with stairs that is located near the Rambla. The incident occurred on January 23 at 10:10 p.m.
The driver, a resident outside the island, assured the Local Police that he was simply following the instructions on his navigator. Given the impossibility of turning back when they realized the situation, they chose to continue, resulting in the van crashing.
The intervention of the authorities was imminent. After arriving at the scene, the agents subjected the driver to a breathalyzer test, yielding a result that tripled the permitted rate (0.79 mg/l). Although he was not arrested, he was charged with a crime against road safety resulting in an accident.
The task of freeing the van proved to be a logistical challenge, as a crane could not access the narrow street. It was the Palma Firefighters who finally managed to free the van, which remained immobilized at the scene.
The driver’s version coincided with his statement to the Local Police, where he stated that he had followed the navigation instructions until he was trapped in the pedestrian street. The complexity of the rescue, which finally concluded with the successful descent of the vehicle to the bottom of the plaza.
