Police in Spain are investigating a driver in his 70s after a car crashed into a group of Irish riders (Photo: Ivanb.photo)
A driver who had apparently modified his vehicle so its speed could be controlled with walking sticks is at the centre of the Spanish police investigation into a crash that left four Irish cyclists injured.
Two of the men are in a serious condition in hospital while a third is critical due to a head injury. The men had just arrived in Spain for a cycling holiday and were out for their first ride when the incident happened.
Donal Goulding of Ballincollig Crusaders Cycling Club in Co Cork was one of three Irish riders hospitalised after the crash, and he is the mostly serious injured.
A GoFundMe appeal, to meet Goulding’s medical expenses and the costs that will be incurred by his family, including going to Spain to be with him, has already raised €80,000.
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The three cyclists - aged 56, 59, and 62 - were riding in a group when the collision occurred on the CV-925 road in the municipality of Orihuela. Civil Guard Traffic Unit officers and Orihuela Local Police rushed to the scene.
The crash happened just after 3.30pm local time on Wednesday, near the La Pedrera reservoir, close to the village of Torremendo. As well as the three Irish riders hospitalised, a fourth is believed to have been treated at the scene for more minor injuries.
Spanish media has reported the man driving the car was elderly and was 'without legs'. It is unclear if he is a double amputee or if he has lost the power in his legs.
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However, images from the scene depict an elderly man in a mobility scooter, or wheelchair of sorts. While he appears to have lower limbs, it was not clear if they are prosthetics.
One line of investigation is that the driver was controlling his car, for speed and braking, with sticks or canes. Spanish media has reported the police are investigating if the car was modified to allow him drive in that manner, and whether the modifications are legal.
Donie Goulding from Cork, who is well known in the Naval Service and in cycling circles, has been left most seriously injured after the incident on a cycling holiday in Spain
A video of the crash has also emerged and appears to have been recorded on a bike-mounted camera within the group that was hit.
The driver joins the same stretch of road as the group, at a roundabout, from behind and at speed. The vehicle passes some of the riders at the back of the group to their right and goes up onto the pavement.
Images suggest the car apparently then cut across the road, right to left, and came to rest on a raised central reserve, having hit several cyclists in the process.
Stickybottle is not sharing the video, given the cyclists are so badly injured and the fact the cause of the crash is under police investigation.
However, the images that have emerged with the video show bikes on the road and a badly damaged Mercedes car, with debris having fallen from it due to the impact of the crash.
