Raül Adames García, 48, director of Barcelona's Diocesan Secretariat for Catholic Education, killed when his
van hit a stationary bus on CG-2 near Incles; wife injured but released from hospital.
Key Points
- Van driven by Adames struck stationary bus unloading passengers; pronounced dead at scene despite resuscitation.
- Wife, 46, airlifted with facial injuries, treated and released same day; four children safe in Andorra apartment.
- Born 1971, led Abat Oliba Loreto since 2011, diocesan role since 2018; championed religious education and teacher training.
- Tributes from Archdiocese, CECE, and others; autopsy pending to rule out health issues; funeral details soon.
Raül Adames García, the 48-year-old director of Barcelona's Diocesan Secretariat for Catholic Education and Abat Oliba Loreto school, died on Friday in a traffic collision on the CG-2 road near Incles while returning from Andorra with his wife. The crash occurred around 2:40 p.m., when the van he was driving struck a stationary bus unloading passengers outside the Interski hotel. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency resuscitation attempts, with no need for helicopter evacuation.
His 46-year-old wife suffered facial injuries and was airlifted to hospital but released the same day after treatment. Their four children were not in the vehicle; the family had been staying in a tourist apartment in Andorra with others at the time.
A Sant Cugat del Vallès resident born in 1971, Adames studied at the University of Barcelona and Complutense University of Madrid. He started teaching in 2001 at Viaró Global School, joined Abat Oliba Loreto in 2005, became its director in 2011, and assumed the diocesan role in 2018. He had led the CEU schools area until late last year. Through the Abat Oliba Foundation and the Interdiocesan Secretariat for Religious Education in Catalonia (SIERC), he managed religious teacher training, school-parish links, and ties with education authorities, including the Urgell diocese. He championed teaching freedom, public-private partnerships, and religious education's role in holistic development, while pushing teacher professionalization and Catholic schools' involvement in broader debates.
The Archdiocese of Barcelona, under Cardinal Joan Josep Omella, confirmed the death and said details of the funeral would be announced soon, expecting attendance from education and religious figures. The Valls archpriestate responded quickly upon learning his identity, and Urgell diocese members knew him from SIERC activities.
Tributes have come from education groups. Alfonso Aguiló, president of the Spanish Confederation of Educational Centres (CECE), described it as "a great loss for the world of education," offering condolences to Adames's wife and four children, and highlighting his CEU and Arenales leadership. Catalan and national organizations have praised his integrity, service, and work bridging Catholic education with society. The Archdiocese has called for prayers and affirmed his legacy endures.
Authorities are awaiting a possible clinical autopsy to check for pre-crash health issues, which has delayed body transfer to Sant Cugat.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- Diari d'Andorra•
Dol al món educatiu i religiós per la mort del xofer de l’accident a Incles
- El Periòdic•
El conductor mort en el xoc d’Incles era Raül Adames, director del Secretariat d’Educació Catòlica de Barcelona
- Diari d'Andorra•
El conductor mort en el xoc a Incles era Raül Adames, referent de l’educació catòlica a Barcelona
- Altaveu•
El conductor mort en l'accident d'Incles era un destacat dirigent de l'educació catòlica a Barcelona
- ARA•
El director del col·legi Abat Oliva mor en un sinistre tornant d'Andorra