Traffic chaos

A ten-vehicle pile up on the outskirts of Palma yesterday afternoon caused traffic chaos along the motorway between the city and Andratx with drivers forced to sit in a traffic jam which tailed back past Magalluf. The accident happened at 4.30 near the slip road to San Agustin. The pile up was sparked by a collision between a lorry and two vans, one of which careered off the road while the lorry was left stranded in the middle of the motorway and that is when chaos broke out as cars braked sharply to avoid crashing into the disabled vehicles. But seven cars were unable to avoid each other on both sides of the motorway, bringing the road to a complete halt. Both the 061 and Insular ambulance services mounted emergency operations under the coordination of the Guardia Civil traffic chief. At first the emergency services expected to find seriously injured victims but fortunately the injuries were not as bad as expected. At least six people needed medical attention, three of whom were taken to hospital.