A group of children riding bicycles were hit by a car in the center of La Rochelle.
On an after-school outing, the young victims came from a daycare center.
Seven injured are to be deplored, according to a report given by the prefecture and confirmed by the prosecutor’s office.
A serious accident occurred this Wednesday morning in the city center of La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime). Shortly after 10 a.m., a car driven by an octogenarian woman hit a group of 12 children aged 10 to 11 and two accompanying people who were riding bicycles near Avenue de Coligny in circumstances that remain to be determined. . The victims came from a municipal leisure center and were on an after-school outing.
The latest report, revealed by the prefecture of Charente-Maritime and confirmed by the public prosecutor of La Rochelle, Arnaud Laraize, shows seven injured: one very serious injured with a very serious vital prognosis who was evacuated by helicopter to Poitiers hospital, two victims in absolute emergency and four in relative emergency.
The 83-year-old driver could not be heard
Immediately after the incident, the woman who was driving the vehicle involved was arrested by the police. “The driver, aged 83, tested negative for alcohol and narcotics. For the moment, the cause of the frontal collision has not been determined. indicates to LCI-TF1 the public prosecutor, who has opened an investigation for “unintentional injuries by a driver”.
Initially placed in police custody, the measure was finally lifted.for medical incompatibility. The octogenarian was hospitalized. His condition currently does not allow his hearing, specifies the magistrate.
Investigators from the Interdepartmental Directorate of the National Police (DIPN) are continuing their investigations. In particular, they are looking for any possible witnesses to the tragedy and any extracted images that could be taken from the video surveillance cameras installed in the area.
Crisis unit
A crisis unit was set up within the prefecture shortly after the accident.
“In order to answer the numerous questions from the population on the situation of the traffic accident involving a group of 12 children and their two companions, a public information unit (CIP) is activated this Wednesday, June 5. This platform telephone number is open at 09 70 80 90 40 (free call). Numbers 15, 17 and 18 are exclusively reserved for emergencies. insists the prefecture in a press release at midday.
