The investigation into the fatal collision in the Poblenou neighborhood, which caused two deaths this Sunday in Barcelona, suggests that the driver fleeing from the Mossos d’Esquadra had allegedly consumed laughing gas. The substance, also known as nitrous oxide, was found in the wreckage of the fugitive's crashed vehicle.
According to police sources, material associated with nitrous oxide consumption, such as a canister or dispenser and a balloon, was located in the car of the driver who fled from officers in the Sant Martí district. This practice involves inflating the balloon with the gas and inhaling it to achieve a state of euphoria.
The unidentified fleeing driver was operating a vehicle with French license plates. The pursuit began after staff at the Hilton Diagonal Mar hotel alerted the police due to his erratic and strange behavior in the establishment's garage.
During the high-speed chase, the driver hit motorcycles, drove the wrong way, and mounted the sidewalk, before crashing violently at the intersection of Pallars and Fluvià streets. The impact resulted in his death and that of a driver stopped at a traffic light, while his passenger was seriously injured.
The Barcelona Urban Guard is handling the traffic accident investigation. Police were unable to conduct alcohol or drug tests on the deceased driver, but the autopsy will determine if he had consumed substances.
