Another fatality on the EN125, this time on the hill between Algarve Shopping and the roundabout at Guia.
The toll was one dead, a 48-year-old man (see reader's comment below for details) and two seriously injured who were rushed to Faro hospital.
The accident happened at around 15.30 with two vehicles involved in a high speed collision on the EN125 at Vale Verde.
The resulting wreckage ensured that the road was cut off for four hours as the police and ambulance services attended to the injured and cleared the area.
On the scene were 17 emergency vehicles with 37 personnel from Messines and Albufeira fire services, medics from the emergency ambulance service INEM, GNR officers from the Transit Brigade in Albufeira and representatives from the Rotas do Algarve company that manages the EN125.
The accident will add to claims by anti-tolls campaign groups CUVI and Algarve Without Tolls that much of the EN125 traffic would be using the far safer Via do Infante motorway if it was free to use, as it was planned to be.
The cause of the accident is not yet known but police have interviewed several eye-witnesses and by now will have formed a picture of what happened and who was at fault on this notoriously fast section of road where an Audi was left at the side of the road beyond recognition and a badly damaged Renault in the middle of the highway.
The victim later was named as well respected guitarist Miguel Drago from Castro Marim who was one of founders of the Associação Cultural Fado com História, de Tavira and played in the Pedro Frias Band. The driver of the Renault is from Mora in the district of Evora.
Drago was considered as one of the finest players of the Portugese guitar in Portugal.
Drago's wife, the art historian Rita Manteigas and the driver of a second vehicle are in a serious condition in Faro hospital.
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Picture of Guitarist Miguel Drago who died on Sunday
See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck-FdWrz4QM&feature=youtu.be
Comments
The EN- 125 becoming once more the most Dangerous Road (Rua Urbana!) in Southern Europe, since 1992 when the Algarve was presented with a Real Gift - the Via do Infante HWY, Free of Tolls!!! Since 3 years ago with the Enforcement of the Tolls on the A22, things have become unfortunately Dramatic at the EN-125!!! R.I.Peace, Guitarist Miguel Drago, victim of the Assassin EN -125!!! This collision was close to the area (Shopping Guia) where our dear friend Petha Birch, lost her life 3 years ago! Peter Booker's comment... "At present, it is supposed that their car was hit head-on by that of another driver who was literally asleep at the wheel.
Yet another tragedy caused by this senseless policy of tolls, which targets those who either cannot or choose not to pay the motorway tolls." :(!!!
While this is certainly a tragic event, I cannot help but agree with your comment about the driving styles and what seems to be a complete lack of enforcement of the rules of the road. Maybe the government can consider using tickets issued for wreckless driving on EN125 as a source of revenue. Based on the complete lack of discipline of the drivers on EN125, the total disregard for the speed limits and the solid lines, I suspect they may match if not exceed the take from the tolls on A-22.
At present, it is supposed that their car was hit head-on by that of another driver who was literally asleep at the wheel.
Yet another tragedy caused by this senseless policy of tolls, which targets those who either cannot or choose not to pay the motorway tolls.