Reims: eight injured, two seriously, after loss of control during illegal tuning event
An unlicenced driver under the influence of alcohol struck eight people on Friday evening in Reims during an illegal tuning gathering. Two victims are seriously injured.
Accident at illegal tuning gathering in Reims: eight injured, driver in custody
Eight people were injured, two of them seriously, on Friday evening in Reims after a vehicle lost control and struck a group of spectators gathered for an illegal tuning event, France Info reports, citing police and the Marne prefecture.
The incident occurred at approximately 23:40 in the Neuvillette commercial area in the municipality of Reims. According to estimates from a police source provided to France Info, between 200 and 300 people were attending this unauthorised event at the time of the accident.
The driver was apprehended and placed in custody, the prosecutor of the Reims Republic specified to ICI Champagne-Ardenne. According to the prosecutor, the man was driving without a valid driving licence and under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
All injured persons were transported to Reims University Hospital. Firefighters intervened at the scene for part of the night; their operation was concluded at around 2:00 in the morning, ICI Champagne-Ardenne reports.
Reactions from authorities
In a statement, the prefect of the Marne condemned "in the strongest terms the behaviour (...) that led to this accident", stating that "these events, organised in defiance of basic safety rules and regulations, seriously endanger the lives of participants and spectators".
The mayor of Reims from the Horizons party, Arnaud Robinet, reacted on Facebook by expressing his initial thoughts to the victims and their families, describing the participants as "irresponsible" who "deserve to be heavily sanctioned".
Robinet also indicated that "the city has deployed significant traffic-calming measures in this area", whilst acknowledging being "well aware that this will not be enough to curb the phenomenon". The elected official called for "strong measures from the State and legislative advances to effectively combat these gatherings and urban racing events", citing notably the Ripost bill as a means of providing expected responses.
Source: France Info