They were radiant and exuded the joy of living. On August 14, 2023, their lives came to an end at the end of the day on the D6 in Saint Helena. Two 21-year-old Swiss women, on vacation in Carcans-plage, were passengers in a Volkswagen driven by a friend when their vehicle was hit by the Citroën C5 of a driver, Issa Lambert, before ending up against a tree below the the roadway.
Issa Lambert, 26 years old at the time of the events, drove without having validated his Mauritanian license in France, without insurance, at excessive speed and after having consumed whiskey, cannabis and cocaine. Prosecuted for involuntary manslaughter with at least two aggravating circumstances in repeat offenses and involuntary injuries to the seriously injured driver, he was sentenced by the criminal court this Tuesday, December 10 to ten years in prison. Placed in pre-trial detention, he was kept behind bars following the hearing.
Hit and run
“I am particularly satisfied that we were able to obtain such a criminal sanction, beyond the requisitions of the public prosecutor,” confides M.e Philippe Courtois, lawyer for the families of the two Swiss women killed in the accident. I sincerely hope that this decision will now resonate with traffic offenders. »
Maître Philippe Courtois, lawyer for the families of the two Swiss tourists killed in the accident.
Archives Claude Petit / SO
On August 14, 2023, Issa Lambert initially refused to comply with the police after having had a material collision in Lacanau-ville. He had fled, taking insane risks in traffic, slaloming between cars, crossing a central reservation, using the emergency lane, overtaking in a continuous line at more than 100 km/h. Until he appeared in front of the car of the young Swiss women.
During the judicial investigation, the driver expressed regret to the investigating judge. He said he was “heartbroken and compassionate” because he too lost his father in a car accident when he was six years old.
The judgment of the criminal court was appealed.
