MADRID, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen people have died from traffic accidents over the past four-day holiday in Spain, the General Direction of Traffic (DGT) said on Wednesday.
The 13 deaths occurred in 12 different accidents, among which two people died when their vehicle was hit by a goods train on an unguarded level crossing in the country's central province of Ciudad Real, and another person lost his life when his car ran off the road.
The DGT connected the traffic accidents with high travels during the Assumption Day, as Spaniards prefer to spend their holidays at beach or favorable tourist destinations, and they shuttle back and forth between cities and beaches at similar times.
Some people also return to their home towns or villages to join the annual celebrations of "fiestas" which were held over the weekend.
This time also saw intensified controls by police on the road, to check and prevent the possible risks caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Around 6,600 agents from the Civil Guards were on duty over the weekend, trying to ensure drivers security and the smooth flow of traffic.
The DGT predicts that this summer the country will see a total of 89 million road journeys made by vehicles, up 4.6 percent from 2016, reflecting how more people are able to take holidays again as the economy improves.
More than 700 people have died in road accidents in Spain since the start of 2017.
