While Les Bleus fans were celebrating the 2-0 victory against Morocco in the semi-final of the World Cup, a 14-year-old boy died in Montpellier on Wednesday evening, December 14.
The boy was “violently” hit by “a hit-and-run driver,” according to initial statements from local authorities.
The driver fled and “the vehicle was found near the scene of the accident and placed in escrow,” the prefecture said in a statement, noting that “the police investigation is progressing rapidly under the direction of the prosecutor.”
? Communiqué du préfet de l’#Hérault Hugues Moutouh ⤵️#Montpellier pic.twitter.com/Sc7L0jeNs7
— Préfet de l’Hérault ?? (@Prefet34) December 14, 2022
The victim, only 14 years old according to French news outlet BFMTV, was transferred to the hospital in an absolute emergency but did not survive the shock.
His death was announced shortly after he was admitted for medical care.
According to Deputy Nathalie Oziol, the tragic accident occurred in the popular district of Paillade, she said on Twitter, regretting that this “sporting event ends in absolute tragedy.”
J’apprends le décès du garçon de 14ans fauché dans le quartier de la #Paillade à #Montpellier. Immense tristesse, un événement sportif s’achève en drame absolu.
Je présente mes condoléances à la famille et je me tiens à leur disposition. https://t.co/YzMfqSkoHy
— Nathalie Oziol (@NathalieOziol) December 14, 2022
“We hope that the perpetrators of this despicable act are found to be judged,” said this Thursday, December 15, on Twitter the mayor of Montpellier Michaël Delafosse, expressing his “consternation.”
Nous sommes tous sous le choc et la consternation devant ce terrible drame, j’adresse mes condoléances aux parents, et proches. Les enquêteurs s’efforcent de faire la lumière sur les faits et nous souhaitons que les auteurs de cet acte ignoble soient retrouvés pour être jugés. https://t.co/Nl4aAUG3ev
— Michaël Delafosse (@MDelafosse) December 15, 2022
Minister of Interior Gérald Darmanin sent his “thoughts for the family of the young boy knocked down by a hit-and-run driver in Montpellier” in a tweet.
Merci aux 10 000 policiers et gendarmes mobilisés hier. Ils ont permis à ceux qui voulaient fêter la victoire de la France et le très beau parcours du Maroc de le faire.
Pensées pour la famille du jeune garçon renversé par un chauffard à Montpellier.— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) December 15, 2022
On social networks, several videos have captured the scene of the accident, where a white vehicle can be seen trying to make an abrupt U-turn in the middle of a crowd of French team supporters.
Before the maneuver of the car, we can also see an individual trying to tear off a tricolor flag coming out of this same car.
A gesture that seems to have led to the particularly fast and dangerous maneuver of the driver, hitting several people before hitting the young boy.
Interviewed by France Bleu, several witnesses of the accident described the driver as celebrating and boasting the victory.
In Paris, the police prefecture told French outlet Le Figaro that nearly 20,000 people were on the Champs-Élysées square after the match, and that 108 arrests were made.
Elsewhere in France, 70 people were arrested, mainly for throwing projectiles, insults or disorder, and 33 police officers were slightly injured, according to the same source.
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