The Provincial Judge of Malaga has ratified the sanction of €1,800 imposed on the ex-director of the University of Malaga, Sebastián Torres, stemming from the February 15, 2001 collision with twin brothers and former professionals, Javier and Ricardo Ochoa, which caused the death of Ricardo.
The decision confirms the first ruling of May 2006, when the court ordered Torres to pay a fine of €1800 and to give up his driver's license for a year, according to newspaper El Mundo.
In May, Judge Isabel María Alvaz considered the accident to be "partly as a consequence to sunlight distraction, partially entered the road's right-hand shoulder," although it was indicated the defendant "did not exceed the maximum speed limit."
For this, Torres was ordered to pay €1800 and, with the insurer AXA, €363,768 to the parents of Ricardo and €1,574,962 to Javier for "the days in the hospital, the permanent disabilities, medical expenses and for pain and suffering.
The Ochoa family expressed their disagreement with the overall decision and its lawyers announced that they would appeal the sentence.
Javier, who won the Hautacam stage of the 2000 Tour de France ahead of Lance Armstrong, suffered a shattered left leg, five fractured vertebrae and severe cranial trauma, and he remained in a coma for 64 days. He was unable to return to professional competition but won a gold medal in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.
