Tragic Traffic Accident

Road Fatalities

Formentera, July 23, 2026

Formentera experienced a day of tragedy last Wednesday following a traffic accident that claimed the lives of two young Portuguese tourists. The crash occurred on one of the island’s main roads, along the stretch connecting La Savina with the Ses Salines Natural Park, prompting a major emergency response.

The victims, aged 31 and 32, were riding together on a rental scooter when they collided with a taxi. Despite the rapid response of the emergency medical services, neither of them survived the severe injuries they sustained.

The accident caused major traffic disruptions for several hours while the Guardia Civil carried out its investigation and emergency crews worked at the scene. It later emerged that the two women were part of a group of six friends who had recently graduated from medical school and had travelled to the island to enjoy a few days of holiday together.

This tragic incident adds to the growing number of road fatalities that occur in Formentera each summer season, where holidays that begin with excitement and the hope of enjoying the island can end in the worst possible way for both the victims and their friends and families.

A Scooter and a Taxi

The accident took place on Wednesday morning on the outskirts of La Savina, heading towards Ses Illetes Beach along the road leading to Es Pujols. According to the 061 emergency service, the two women were travelling on the same scooter when the collision with a taxi occurred.
By the time paramedics arrived at the scene, one of the passengers had already died from the severity of her injuries. The second victim suffered a cardiac arrest and, despite prolonged resuscitation efforts by medical staff, she could not be saved.
Guardia Civil officers, Local Police and two ambulances were dispatched to the scene to deal with the emergency and secure the area.

Road Closed

Following the accident, the section of road between La Savina and the access road to Ses Illetes Beach remained completely closed to traffic while emergency services carried out their work and the judicial investigation got underway.
Initially, the victims were not carrying any identification, making it difficult to confirm their identities. Hours later, the Guardia Civil confirmed that both women were Portuguese nationals and released their ages.
Traffic remained disrupted for approximately five hours and was not restored until after 4:30 pm, once the police and judicial procedures had been completed.

With Four Other Friends

The two women were part of a group of six friends who had recently graduated from medical school and had chosen Formentera as the destination to celebrate completing their studies.
They had originally planned to rent a single car to get around the island, but as there was not enough room for everyone, two of them decided to rent and ride a scooter instead.
The Formentera Taxi Association stated that, pending the official conclusions of the Guardia Civil investigation, the scooter is believed to have crossed into the opposite lane before the head-on collision with the taxi. The association also noted that the taxi driver is a highly experienced professional.

A Personal Reflection

I often receive private messages asking whether it is better to rent a car or a scooter for a holiday in Formentera, whether for a day trip or for a longer stay. Before answering, my first question is always the same: Do you normally ride a motorcycle or scooter where you live?

Without knowing the exact circumstances of yesterday’s tragic accident, I am convinced that many people choose to rent a scooter because they assume it is not particularly difficult to ride and because current traffic regulations do not require a specific motorcycle licence to ride a scooter of up to 125cc if you already hold a full car driving licence.
This legal situation, combined with the small size of Formentera, encourages people with little or no experience on two wheels to explore the island on this type of vehicle, often without fully appreciating the risks involved.

I drive a car in Formentera and always try to be especially cautious whenever I am behind a scooter, and even more so when I am behind a group of them.
Over the years, I have witnessed countless dangerous manoeuvres, sudden braking, hesitant riding and other situations that could easily have resulted in an accident, where the motorcyclist would almost always be the one to suffer the most serious consequences.

That is why, if you are planning to drive in Formentera, my recommendation is to choose the type of vehicle that you already have real driving experience with, because the roads in Formentera are just as dangerous as roads anywhere else.