Nantes: 22-year-old auxiliary police officer killed by car on ring road
An auxiliary police officer was fatally struck by a car whilst pursuing fleeing suspects on the ring road around Nantes. The motorist was unable to brake in time to avoid the collision.
Death of auxiliary police officer during operation in Nantes
According to Actu17, a 22-year-old auxiliary police officer was killed in the night of Friday 17 October after being struck by a car on the inner ring road of Nantes. The officer, assigned to the Saint-Herblain police station since the beginning of 2025, was crossing the traffic lanes to catch up with two fleeing individuals.
The operation began around 1 a.m. A team from the Saint-Herblain police station, comprising three police officers and the auxiliary police officer, had been called after the discovery of a suspicious vehicle on the ring road with hazard lights activated. Upon arrival, the officers found a stationary car at the Porte d'Orvault. Two occupants immediately fled on foot across the lanes and the central reservation. The officers pursued them whilst remaining near the safety barriers.
The auxiliary police officer left his shelter to cross the lanes, believing the danger had passed. He was then struck by a motorist travelling at high speed. According to Philippe Jos, interdepartmental director of the national police, a first driver had managed to avoid him. The second did not have time to brake. Rescue workers performed cardiac massage for nearly 45 minutes without succeeding in reviving him. The young man was declared dead at the scene.
The driver of the car, in a state of shock, was hospitalised at Nantes University Hospital. Alcohol and drug testing proved negative, and the driver was in proper administrative order. The three other members of the police team, described as "deeply affected", were cared for and then returned to the central police station.
The two individuals who had fled were not apprehended. The Nantes public prosecutor's office and local authorities opened investigations concerning both the officer's death and the offences allegedly committed by the fugitives. According to Ouest-France, the initial flight allegedly involved damage to a vehicle belonging to the Interdepartmental Roads Directorate West (DIRO), with a rear-view mirror being damaged during a dispute with officers.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed on social network X his "immense emotion" and "profound sadness", extending his thoughts "to his family, loved ones and his colleagues at the Saint-Herblain police station deeply affected by this tragedy". The national police of Loire-Atlantique stated they were in mourning. Prefect Laurent Hottiaux offered his condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased officer.
The trade unions Alliance Police Nationale and Un1té both reacted to the death. Alliance Police Nationale spoke of another "tragedy affecting the entire police family". Un1té paid tribute to the memory of a young man whose life was "brutally cut short while carrying out his duties", extending its condolences to the family, loved ones and colleagues of the deceased officer.
Source: Actu17