TWO Brits have tragically died after crashing into a suspected drug trafficker’s speedboat on a motorway in Spain.
Another eight people have been left injured including a third Brit who is fighting for his life – as cops hunt for the escaped owner of the 32ft boat.
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Spanish police say that the initial crash caused a mass pile up of six other cars after the speedboat broke loose from a truck carrying it on a trailer.
The fatal accident took place at around 9.30pm last night on the RM-12 – a dual carriageway known as La Manga motorway in the city of Murcia.
It is a common route for travellers going between La Manga and Cartagena.
All of the Brits involved were men aged between 47 and 54, the Civil Guard confirmed.
The two who were killed were pronounced dead at the scene when five ambulance crews arrived.
The third, a 51-year-old man, was rushed to Virgen de la Arrixaca University Clinical Hospital in Murcia for urgent medical attention.
His condition is currently unknown.
Fire crews also arrived to the motorway and spent nearly 30 minutes trying to rescue the people who were trapped inside their cars.
One of the cars had ended upside down as others faced serious damage with their front and back bumpers being smashed in.
Onlookers said that at least one of the vehicles rolled across the road.
The boat he was carrying that ended up on the dual-carriageway has all the characteristics of a so-called ‘narco lancha’ involved in drug trafficking and an investigation is ongoing
Civil Guard spokesman
Cops are continuing to investigate the crash and say the owner of the speedboat managed to flee the scene and is yet to be arrested.
The 32ft boat – which was found beside the mass group of cars – is believed to be what is known as a “narco lancha”, say cops.
A narco lancha is a term used to describe a speedboat which is used by drug traffickers to smuggle narcotics inside.
Officers are yet to confirm the names of any of the people involved and have not said if the Brits were tourists or lived in the area.
Four of those injured are still receiving treatment at a hospital in Cartagena.
They include two women aged 18 and 55 and two men aged 19 and 29, Spain’s regional emergency response coordination centre said.
A Civil Guard spokesman added: “The accident happened around 9.30pm last night on the RM-12 around the El Algar municipality.
“A semi-rigid boat on board a trailer a vehicle was pulling came off and ended on the road across both lanes.
“A car travelling behind it with three British men inside aged between 47 and 54 smashed into the vessel.
“The driver of the vehicle that was travelling with the speed boat on the trailer fled the scene. He has yet to be arrested.
“The boat he was carrying that ended up on the dual-carriageway has all the characteristics of a so-called ‘narco lancha’ involved in drug trafficking and an investigation is ongoing.”
The fatal collision caused a build up of traffic on Saturday evening as officials closed off the RM-12 route to begin their investigations.