Car accidents can be expensive, especially if you’re carrying nearly a million euros in banknotes, which end up all over the place.

The accident occurred on the A-92 where it passes through Huétor Santillán and involved a campervan with three people on board… and lots of banknotes. For reasons unknown, the vehicle left the road as it was making its way down to Málaga in the early hours of the morning.

Both fortunately, and unfortunately, for the three occupants, the Guardia Civil were at the scene within minutes. The campervan was a complete write-off. The two passengers were inside but the driver was lying some metres away seriously injuried.

All around the stricken vehicle were banknotes.

An ambulance arrived to take the two men and a woman to hospital, but not before the police breathalysed the driver, who gave a positive reading both in alcohol and drugs. All three of them were Lithuanian.

None of them recognised the money, legal tender and not forgeries, as belonging to them

None of them were arrested but they were charged with moving money illegally – the driver should have filled out an S1 form to be submitted to the Comisión de Prevención del Blanqueo de Capitales e Infracciones Monetarias as the some was over 100,000 euros. It is not a criminal offence but rather an administrative one punishable with a fine of 600 euros. In serious cases the fine can be up to 50% of the monies intervened.

They will also have to demonstrate the origin of the money, if they want it back, but if they keep to the story that they had never seen it before, Hacienda will generously step in and pocket the lot.

(News: Huetor Santillan, Granada, Andalucia)