The motorist taken into custody after Tuesday’s fatal accident pleads accident.
The fatal accident took place on Tuesday, October 15, when a 27-year-old cyclist was fatally struck by an SUV in Paris, after an altercation. This Wednesday, October 16, the police custody of the motorist involved was extended by 24 hours, according to a decision by the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The motorist is being questioned as part of a murder investigation. So far, only one hearing has taken place, during which the driver claimed that it was an accident. “He was going to a medical appointment for his 16-year-old daughter, and got stuck in traffic, he wanted to go faster by taking the cycle lane,” explained his lawyer. New hearings are planned for Thursday October 17, before a possible referral to an investigating judge.
The man behind the wheel “screams his innocence” The first elements of the investigation reveal that the cyclist was riding on a cycle path not separated from the rest of the road, boulevard Malesherbes, when the driver of the SUV suddenly cut his path, causing a fall. Witnesses reported that the motorist, aged 52, crushed the foot of the cyclist, who, as he got up, hit the hood of the vehicle in protest.
Experienced father who travels “nearly 150,000 km per year”
In police custody, the motorist is described as “collapsed and screaming his innocence” in the face of accusations of intentionality, according to his lawyer, who was contacted by BFMTV. “The cyclist then hit the hood, then screamed saying that he was running over his foot. My client immediately made a maneuver by backing up,” said the lawyer.
It was at this precise moment that the young cyclist was fatally injured. “My client, who was with his daughter on board, immediately got out of the car to help the cyclist when he realized what had just happened, and he tried to resuscitate him. He would never have intentionally driven over someone “one”, insisted the lawyer, describing an experienced father who travels “nearly 150,000 km per year, but had almost all his license points”. According to police sources, he had 8 of the 12 initial points remaining.
After another night in police custody, the motorist will be questioned again on Thursday by the judicial police.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office will then decide on the legal action to be taken, with a probable opening of a judicial investigation and the presentation of the accused before an investigating judge.
