Drug-Impaired Driver Causes Head-On Collision After Driving Wrong Way on Tenerife Highway
A drug-impaired driver caused a head-on collision after traveling the wrong way on Tenerife’s TF-5 highway, resulting in injuries to two people and sparking a criminal investigation.
Road safety in Tenerife was severely compromised recently after a reckless driver caused a crash that left two people injured. According to local reports, a 30-year-old man, who was later found to be under the influence of drugs, drove against the flow of traffic on several urban and main roads, putting many other drivers at risk.
The incident began on Avenida Benito Pérez Armas, where the driver entered the Northern Highway (TF-5) via the viaduct near the municipal swimming pool. He drove the wrong way toward Santa Cruz de Tenerife, forcing other motorists to swerve to avoid a collision. The dangerous sequence ended near the Chamberí neighborhood, where he crashed head-on into another vehicle.
Both drivers were injured in the accident, with the man responsible for the crash in more serious condition. Emergency services, including firefighters, medical teams, and local police, responded immediately. To allow for rescue efforts and an investigation, police closed the access lanes to the capital and diverted traffic through the road near the Santa Lastenia cemetery.
Toxicology tests confirmed that the driver had been using cocaine. This incident has reignited public debate regarding repeat traffic offenders and the effectiveness of road safety checks. Under the Spanish Penal Code, driving under the influence of drugs while driving recklessly in the wrong direction is a serious crime that can lead to prison time, the loss of a driver’s license, and the seizure of the vehicle. Authorities are now finalizing their investigation into the incident, which has caused significant alarm across the metropolitan area.