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The death of Josaia Raisuqe, player of the Olympic Castres, created a great emotion in the world of rugby. According to the first findings, the 30 -year -old faithful winger has crossed the safety barriers of a level crossing before being struck by a train. Back on the circumstances of this drama.
A few meters through the foliage, the scene is of rare emotional power. Around the body of Josaia Raisuqe, their teammate, their friend, their brother, some players from the Olympic Castres collect and pray in a protective circle. This Thursday, May 8, in the morning, the Fijian winger of the CO, 30, died in a tragic road accident, struck by a train at a level crossing, between the training center of Lévezou and Sémalens. A drama that shakes the big family of rugby. This is what we know.
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In what context did the accident take place?
It is about 8 hours this Thursday, May 8. Public holidays for many but not for CO players, then in full preparation for a capital reception on Saturday against Clermont, for the top 6 race (match canceled since and reprogrammed at the weekend of May 24). Like her teammates, Josaia Raisuqe goes to the Lévezou training center in Saïx.
But when he got there, he realizes that he has forgotten something and takes his car to return to his home. “The victim had just left the CO training center to go home to recover forgotten things,” confirms the prosecutor of Castres, Elodie Buguel, in a press release. A few minutes later, he died on the D51.
What happened?
Once at the level of a level crossing, between the training center and the neighboring village of Sémalens, the driver “would have crossed the security barriers and was then struck by the locomotive”, continues the prosecutor, which relies on the first investigations and the first testimonies collected by the gendarmerie investigators.
The shock is terrible: struck by a TER at around 100 km/h, the car is dragged around 200 m on the railway. The rugby player died instantly.
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How were the passengers of the train?
TER in the direction of Toulouse had 21 passengers. Supported quickly by the SNCF services, some were able to finish their journey on a bus chartered for the occasion. “I was at the front. The shock was not too felt, I only heard a huge noise and seen a lot of pebbles and rubble, some of which were starting to enter the doors. I know that passengers saw debris go. We felt the smell of petrol too,” said one of the passengers, recovered by a loved one. “The samples (blood alcohol levels and drugs) taken from the train driver are negative,” said Elodie Buguel.
How will the investigation take place?
Led by the funeral directors, the body of Josaia Raisuqe was transported to the Toulouse Medico-Legal Institute to be autopsied. An investigation was “immediately opened” and entrusted to the Castres research brigade and the Vielmur-sur-Agout brigade. Both were on site this morning alongside the firefighters, as well as Frédérique Suquet, vice-procureure.
“Technical and scientific investigations were carried out, in particular to determine the exact circumstances of the collision,” adds Elodie Buguel. The black box has been seized and investigations are underway on the proper functioning of the level crossing. A bailiff was also on the scene of the drama this morning. “Complementary hearings will be carried out quickly within the framework of the investigation,” she concludes.
