Driver jailed for killing 15-year-old girl in hit-and-run in Mallorca

THE driver who ran over and killed 15-year-old Paula Fornés has been sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in jail.
Paula Fornés was one of six teenagers who were walking home on a bike lane in Sa Rapita, Mallorca in 2018 after enjoying the Sant Joan fiesta celebrations. The woman, who has been named as Renata G., lost control of a Skoda car which belonged to her husband and ran into the group, killing Paula Fornés instantly.
Renata G. fled the scene but was followed by two key witnesses who subsequently took the car keys from her when she stopped to try and adjust the wing mirror of the car.
We at Euro Weekly News understand that Campos Police tested the woman for alcohol where she was found to be four times over the legal limit. A witness also told the court during the trial that the defendant “could almost not stand up” when they had approached her.
The impact received by Paula Fornés was described by the coroner who carried out the autopsy to be “extremely violent” and that her death was virtually instantaneous.
The head of the Criminal Court determined that Renata G. lost control of the vehicle “because she was looking at the mobile phone at the time, invading the bike lane and crashing into Paula Fornés.”
The judge handed the defendant 4 years for manslaughter and 9 months for driving without a license and with a falsified license. In addition, she must pay a penalty of €1,800 and has been banned from driving for 6 years. A sum of €173,688 was also awarded as compensation to the victim’s family.
The ruling emphasised that Renata G.’s conduct was of ‘extreme gravity’, not only because she was driving with considerable alcohol in her system, with a false license and no liability insurance, but also because she fled the scene leaving Paula and another girl seriously injured. The judge stated that the defendant “deserves the maximum penalty that can be given by the law.’