When help arrived, the driver was staggering in the street, making incoherent comments and smelling strongly of alcohol, according to a police source. In fact, the breathalyzer revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.58 mg of alcohol per liter of exhaled air, or 1.16 g of alcohol per liter of blood. This led to the man being arrested around 4 a.m., this Thursday, December 5, in La Courneuve (Seine-Saint-Denis), after his vehicle collided with a police car, avenue Jean- Jaurès.
The accident left two law enforcement officers injured, with no life-threatening injuries. According to our information, the passenger complained in particular of her stomach and pelvis, while the driver of the company vehicle had a head injury. They were hospitalized in Saint-Denis, as was, as a precaution, the drunk motorist, under police escort.
Two other police officers, who were in the first car, emerged unscathed from the collision which occurred at the intersection with rue Danton, while the company vehicle was heading with sirens blaring, towards Aubervilliers, for an intervention. The driver was entering the intersection when he saw a car coming “at full speed” on his left. The impact could not be avoided, being violent enough to trigger the airbags. The police car ended up across the road, the civilian's car crashed into a sidewalk.
Another element should be taken into account in the conclusions of the current investigation. According to initial findings, the traffic light located at the intersection of the two lanes and where a tram line is also located, was not working. No more than the one following the crossroads.
All other tests, including drugs, were negative.
