Ariège. A poignant tribute organized this Thursday, several diversions put in place

It was a year ago. Already… On January 23, 2024, on the sidelines of agricultural demonstrations, a 37-year-old farmer, Alexandra Sonac, and her daughter, Camille, were fatally mowed down by a motorist on a roadblock located on the RN 20near Pamiers (Ariège). A real drama occurred in the early morning.

365 days later, the JA and FDSEA unions in Ariège decided to organize a tribute ceremony. It will take place this Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 10:45 a.m., at Pamiers.

A stele will be placed where the banner is currently located (on the ground between the Bouriette roundabout and the N20).

Of the white roses will also be distributed to participants. “For those who wish, you will be able to participate on site at the expense of the ceremony,” continues the agricultural union.

Traffic restrictions

On the eve of the tribute, the Ariège prefecture indicates that “the RN20 exit ramps (interchange 6 towards the secondary road network) in both directions, as well as the local portion of the RD119 on the Mirepoix-Pamiers axis, will be closed to traffic between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Several diversions will be put in place during these three hours:

• Vehicles coming from the east wishing to head towards Toulouse or Pamiers north will be able to continue on the RD119 and take interchange 6 to join the RN20.
• Vehicles coming from the east, heading towards Foix and Pamiers-centre, will be able to join the RN20 via interchange 7 in Verniolle to go to Foix, or the RD624 via Saint-Jean-du-Falga to go to Pamiers-centre.
• Vehicles coming from the west heading towards Toulouse will have to take the direction of the Bouriette roundabout and will be diverted towards the commercial zone to reach exchanger 5 via Avenue de la Bouriette, Chemin des Ménestrels and Route de Belpech.
• Vehicles coming from the west heading towards Foix will have to take the entrance ramp onto the RN20 at the level of exchanger 6.

Many vehicles are expected in the Bouriette sector between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. State services recommend that participants in the tribute “avoid passing through this sector at the aforementioned times”.

Where are the legal proceedings?

The driver of the vehicle that fatally mowed down the mother and her daughter is pre-trial detention at the Foix remand center for almost a year. A 44-year-old man of Armenian origin who is now under an obligation to leave the territory (OQTF) since the tragedy. His wife and three children were deported to Armenia on June 21, 2024. “After his judgment, and when he is released, the driver will also be subject to deportation to Armenia,” specified state services following this decision.

He will be judged for manslaughter on February 18 at the Foix criminal court. Note that he did not hold a driving license at the time of the events. He incurs up to 10 years in prison.

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