“The firefighters called me to tell me of an accident and asked me to go to the scene. » This October 17, 2024, Jean-Michel Michaud, deputy mayor of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil goes to the given address, on the outskirts of his commune. He feels something bad has happened. “In the car, we ask ourselves a lot of questions. We imagine. We are not prepared at all. »
Firefighters and police are already there. A 48-year-old woman died after being hit by a tractor. She is one of the 34 people who lost their lives in 2024 on the roads of Maine-et-Loire. A figure which doubled in the fall. In October alone, eleven women, men and children died. Elected officials, but also firefighters, gendarmes, police officers and priests must face these situations on a daily basis.
Read also: Road safety: 272 people died in September 2024 on the roads of mainland France
“We know that we can be confronted with death, but when we do, we are never completely ready. » Jean-Michel Michaud, 66, has been deputy mayor since 2020. This is the second time he has been called for a fatal accident.
“Find the right words”
On October 17, the relatives were there. “What to say in these situations? We do the best we can. Finding the right words is complicated. We do it with our intuition, so that it goes as well as possible. » The body was no longer there, but the damage is visible. “They must not see, they must be protected. »
He is also worried about another of his constituents. “I knew the…
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