Five dead in Spain minibus crash

UPDATED: Police have arrested the driver of the digger that collided with a minibus last night (Thursday), killing five.

Four children and an adult from a youth football team died in the road accident in Extremadura, southern Spain.

The suspect, 37, has reportedly tested positive for illegal substances.

The minibus crashed into a mechanical digger on a country road near Castuera in the south-western Extremadura region yesterday evening.

A Guardia Civil spokesperson said: “A minibus carrying a youth football team had a collision with a digger.

“There are four minors and one adult dead.”

Emergency services in Extremadura said on Twitter that 13 people were injured in the collision, with 11 taken to hospital. It is believed that at least six of those people are seriously hurt.

President of the Extremadura regional government, Jose Antonio Monago, said the children, believed to be between 12 and 15 years of age, were on their way home after taking part in a competition.  

Speaking to COPE radio station he said: “A death is always a tragedy, but I think it resonates a bit more in everyone’s mind when it is children of such a young age.”