The grieving wife of the elderly man who lost his life in the La Gomera bus accident was informed of his passing by medical staff, as she was unaware of the tragedy until then. Reportedly seated next to her husband during the crash, she inquired about his whereabouts upon arriving at a nearby hospital.
According to Guacimara Barrera, the hospital’s director, the woman’s 77-year-old spouse tragically perished instantly when the bus veered off the road near a curve on Friday. The widow, not initially cognizant of the situation, was in a state of shock upon learning the news at the hospital, where she was handled with care.
The unnamed woman is currently receiving support from specialists at the Bancal Hotel & Spa on the island, where over 20 other British survivors, including three children, are also being accommodated post-hospital discharge. The decision to keep them together was made to aid in their recovery from the traumatic incident.
Guardia Civil traffic officers spent approximately 90 minutes at the hotel gathering essential witness statements. Juan Luis Navarro, the Spanish government’s representative on the island, mentioned a possible mechanical issue, likely related to the brakes, as the initial theory behind the accident pending further investigations.
Survivors were relocated to the Bancal Hotel & Spa instead of returning to their original lodging, situated near the crash site, to avoid distress. The bus, which plummeted down the hill after the driver attempted to stop it, remains at the scene covered partially by a tarpaulin sheet and awaiting removal.
Six individuals, including five Britons, were still receiving medical care, with the most severely injured airlifted to Tenerife for treatment. The other three, including a married couple, were being treated at a local hospital near the accident site.
This tragic event occurred less than a year after a similar incident on the same road resulted in the death of a Spanish woman and injuries to 11 others. The bus company, La Gomera Tours, asserts that their vehicles are regularly inspected and have no record of complaints regarding the road in question.
Expressing concern for those impacted, a spokesperson from The Holiday Property Bond emphasized the focus on ensuring the affected individuals’ safety and well-being. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper extended sympathies to those affected by the distressing bus accident in the Canary Islands.
