A group of cyclists on holiday in Mallorca were hit by a bus driver on Thursday, leaving one rider dead and three others seriously injured, in an incident that has prompted an investigation into possible mechanical failure.
The crash happened at around 12.25pm on the Ma-2200 road linking Pollença to the port, near the turn-off to Cala Sant Vicenç. The Transports de les Illes Balears (TIB) bus, travelling towards Pollença, struck four foreign cyclists before crashing into a tree.
A 48-year-old Ukrainian cyclist died at the scene, while a 42-year-old Kazakh and a 43-year-old Russian suffered multiple severe injuries and were taken to Son Espases Hospital in Palma. A fourth cyclist, a 40-year-old woman, was treated for a hip fracture at Inca Hospital, reports Majorca Daily Bulletin.
Several ambulances and the local police were quickly dispatched, with a doctor who happened to be nearby the first to alert emergency services and confirm the fatality. The crash also injured four of the 16 passengers on board the bus, with two Spanish women, a Moroccan man, and a six-month-old baby treated for minor injuries.
Authorities said the bus eventually veered off the road and came to a stop after hitting a tree. The Guardia Civil’s Traffic Division have opened an investigation into the cause, exploring the possibility of a mechanical failure in the bus’s steering or braking systems that caused the driver to lose control.
> British cyclist dies during Mallorca 312 event
One person familiar with the TIB buses commented on the incident, saying: “I travel on these buses nearly every day. Their suspensions are shot and clanking along when they hit the ‘sleeping policemen’.
“Not to mention weak springs and further rattling noises from steering. Very unsafe vehicles, especially when overloaded with standing tourists and residents who are only allowed to travel on one bus. The airport and Palma buses run almost empty. Gross incompetence and totally inefficient.”
Another cyclist who witnessed the aftermath of the incident said that one of the injured cyclists gave him a thumbs-up, although “his bike was a mangled carbon wreck”.
The Mallorca Transport Consortium (CTM), which operates the TIB services, expressed its condolences and pledged full cooperation with investigators.
The crash led to significant traffic disruption along the Ma-2200, a popular cycling route, with island council teams deployed to clear debris and remove the wrecked bus.
The incident comes just days after British cyclist Phil Williams died during the Mallorca 312 Gran Fondo. Williams, a national 25-mile champion riding for Team Bottrill and Liverpool Braveheart BC, reportedly suffered a medical incident during the sportive near Valldemossa and tragically died despite medics’ attempts to resuscitate him.
In January, six members of the German national track team were hospitalised after being hit by an elderly driver in Palma while on a training ride ahead of the European Track Championships. The riders included 2024 world championships medallists Benjamin Boos and Bruno Kessler, with the team only comleting 2.7km of the ride as national coach Lucas Schädlich witnessed the collision from a support car.
A statement from German Cycling later confirmed their riders were involved, the federation corroborating reports that some of the group had suffered “serious” injuries, but none were life-threatening, however, the group’s bikes were “completely destroyed by the impact”.
Mallorca, one of the most sought-after locations for international tourists for many years, has seen several high-profile collisions involving cyclists. Two years ago, a Polish cyclist on holiday in Mallorca died after a motorcyclist, who later tested positive for drugs, lost control of his Harley-Davidson and smashed into a group ride near Pollença.
In 2018, a motorist struck a group of nine German riders, killing one. The driver, Anais Marco, was jailed for three years after being found guilty of manslaughter in July last year, with the court noting her “serious violation” of driving rules.
Although Marco tested positive for marijuana after the crash, the court ruled there was insufficient evidence to convict her of driving under the influence at the time.
New Spanish traffic regulations introduced at the start of 2025 now require drivers to slow down by at least 20km/h when overtaking cyclists and to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 metres, as authorities attempt to reduce the number of cyclist fatalities on the roads.
2 thoughts on “One cyclist dead and three seriously injured after being hit by bus driver in Mallorca”
Our next-door neighbour’s
Our next-door neighbour’s daughter, as a keen and gifted horsewoman, has been featured twice in Horse and Hound. The second feature was her obituary. As well as her horse riding, Alice was also a keen cyclist, and just over a year ago was ridng her bike to the stables where her horse was kept. It was along a twisty road, and coming the other way was a youth travelling at a ridiculous speed. He lost control on a bend, skidded across the road, and Alice was in the rong place at the wrong time. She was killed instantly. She was an only child, the affect on her parents has been awful to see. These are the kind of road users the law needs to concentrate on, not the miniscule minority of cyclists.
Sorry, the above was posted
Sorry, the above was posted in the wrong thread.