Early in the morning of this Saturday, May 4, a 22-year-old young man lost his life in a road accident in the town of Saint-Clair-du-Rhône in Isère. The vehicle of the victim, a player from the CS Vienne rugby club, violently hit a tree.
It’s a shock wave in the world of rugby. Around 7:50 a.m., this Saturday, May 4, a road accident occurred in the town of Saint-Clair-du-Rhône in Isère. A vehicle left the road, ending up in a tree bordering departmental road 4.
After being alerted, 16 firefighters and 5 engines were dispatched to the scene of the accident. When they arrived, the 22-year-old driver was in cardio-respiratory arrest. Despite emergency resuscitation attempts, the SMUR 69 doctor declared the man dead a few minutes later.
Present on site, the department’s services as well as the gendarmes of the Saint-Clair-du-Rhône brigade were forced to cut off traffic on this section of the RD4 throughout the morning. “The tree hit by the vehicle was particularly damaged, requiring the lanes to be secured. indicates the gendarmerie.
The police reopened the RD4 to traffic early in the afternoon. An investigation was opened and entrusted to the Saint-Clair-du-Rhône gendarmerie brigade to determine the precise circumstances of the accident.
According to initial investigations, the 22-year-old young man was alone in his vehicle. For the moment, no direct witness has been identified, thus allowing no conclusion to be drawn on the causes of this accident.
Several samples were taken in the morning. Blood tests are underway to determine whether the victim was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “The Vienna public prosecutor’s office has requested an autopsy” adds the Vienna gendarmerie company.
Investigators got their hands on several identity documents present on the victim. This is Pierre-Mathieu Fernandes, a rugby player from CS Vienne, playing in Nationale 1, the third French division. The rugby player lived in Vernioz, just ten kilometers from Saint-Clair-du-Rhône where he died this Saturday, May 4.
Within the association, this disappearance has the effect of a shock wave. In a message posted on social networks, the club addresses “his most tender thoughts to his family, his loved ones, but also to the group of players, the staff, and all the components of the club, all in shock this morning“.
Reached by telephone, club president Yan Arnaud greets a man “polite“, “smiling” And “very involved in club life“. Pierre-Mathieu Fernades arrived in Vienna last summer after spending a season at the Olympic Stadium in Chambéry rugby. “He was currently following work-study training with one of the club’s partners located in Chanas in Isère. “He was in the second year of the commercial BTS and was due to complete it in June. Just this morning, he went to work and on the way back, he had an accident…” says Yan Arnaud.
“It’s a painful moment. There are few words that come out…”
Yan Arnaud, president of CS Vienne
Originally from Clermont, the rugby player was trained and spent nearly twelve years at ASM. The right pillar, holder of dual Franco-Portuguese nationality, also played with the Portugal national under-20 team. “He hoped to play the next World Cup with Portugal. He was a young player who had great skills. He aspired to play higher.” confides the president of CS Vienne.
In a message on social networks, the Portuguese rugby federation also presents its condolences to the family of the Portuguese international.
Following this shock, the club invited all the players and staff to meet in its infrastructures. “It’s a painful moment. There are few words coming out… […] The club has never experienced this situation. We will do everything we can to support players during this difficult period.” book Yan Arnaud.
A psychological unit should be set up in the coming days within the CS Vienne club. For the first team of which Pierre-Mathieu Fernandes was part, the season is not yet over. There is one match left, on May 19. It’s a final to win to stay in Nationale 1 and pay proper tribute to their partner.
