Loire-Atlantique: he causes a serious accident while watching a horse race on his phone

A 38-year-old man was sentenced Friday May 3, 2024 in immediate appearance for having caused a serious road accident at the entrance to the town of Saint-Joachim (Loire-Atlantique)in the heart of the Brière marshes.

The frontal collision occurred in the evening of Sunday April 21, 2024around 8 p.m., on Departmental 50, towards La Chapelle-des-Marais.

Swerving suddenly into the left lane, a Renault Vel Satis hit the vehicle arriving in front, with a couple in their seventies on board.

Cars in the swamp

The two cars then fell into the swamp.

While the driver fled, the two retirees found themselves stuck in the passenger compartment for around twenty minutes.

In front of Saint-Nazaire criminal courtthe man testified to his fear that the smoky car would “catch fire”, the woman feared on the contrary that she would end up “submerged”.

This 70-year-old woman was hospitalized for broken ribs and neck pain, and was prescribed three days of Temporary Interruption of Work (ITT).

The suspect, a resident of Saint-Joachim, went to the gendarmerie a few days later.

Not holding a driving license, he had borrowed his partner’s Renault that day, despite her refusal, which also led to him being prosecuted for theft.

Several people testified to having seen him driving at high speed a little earlier, and already swerving.

“Addicted to games”

This father of three, who had spent a good part of his day at PMU, explains that he was watching “a horse race on the phone”.

“Addicted to games”, in his own words, he swallows up to “€800 per month”.

“I made a big mistake, I didn’t think about other people,” apologizes this painter at the Airbus factory.

The parquet floor also smells alcohol consumptionor even use of narcotics, two witnesses having described a “fog” in his vehicle.

“It was a cigarette, I have never smoked cannabis. And I didn’t drink that day,” assures the defendant, convicted twice since 2019 for drunk driving.

“Whatever the circumstances of the accident, it is extremely dangerous behavior,” denounces prosecutor Marie-Céline Loubaresse, who requires 12 months in prison, 6 of which are suspended for two years.

“A caring father”

His partner describes him as “a caring father, someone you can count on”, his lawyer “a man who was able to overcome difficulties despite a difficult childhood and the fact of finding himself on the street at 14” .

The 30-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in prison, including 8 months with a probationary suspension of 2 years, involving in particular an obligation of care for alcohol and games.

He will also have to complete a road safety awareness course.

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