A traffic accident at exit 19 of the M-40 in Madrid left four injured, three of them seriously, after a head-on collision that occurred during a police chase. A car fleeing the police collided head-on with a van. Due to the strong impact, both drivers had to be rescued by the Madrid City Council Fire Department. Samur-Protección Civil emergency services treated the injured, three of whom were in serious condition.
The safety technology that failed on impact 🚗
This type of accident tests the passive safety systems of vehicles. Front and side airbags, along with seatbelt pretensioners, are key elements in mitigating injuries in frontal collisions. However, in high-speed chases, effectiveness drops drastically. The programmed deformation of the bodywork absorbs energy, but the structural limit is easily exceeded. Firefighters used hydraulic cutting tools to extricate the drivers, a maneuver that requires knowing the safe cutting points on each car model.
Fleeing the cops: GPS doesn't warn you about these traffic jams 🚔
Apparently, the fugitive driver thought the M-40 was a toll-free racetrack. The move didn't pay off: instead of a pit stop, he had a run-in with a van that wasn't on his itinerary. Firefighters had to do an express body shop job, but without an appointment. Sure, at least he saved himself a speeding ticket; the hospital and tow truck bill, on the other hand, he'll pay dearly. Ironies of the escape: the chase ended in a traffic jam of ambulances.