A police officer killed in the Alpes-Maritimes after refusing to comply on the A8, near Cannes

The driver of the car that knocked down the police officer fled and is being sought by French and Italian police.

A senior gendarmerie officer died on Monday, August 26, after being knocked down by a sedan that refused to be checked, at the exit of the A8 motorway, in Mougins, in the Alpes-Maritimes, franceinfo learned from a source close to the case. According to the same source, the tragedy occurred around 8:40 p.m., at exit 42 of the A8 motorway.

The driver of the black BMW fled after the collision and is being sought by French law enforcement, supported by a helicopter, and Italian law enforcement. The victim died despite the presence of emergency services, the Interior Ministry said. “Warrant Officer Eric Comyn was 54 years old, married and the father of two children aged 16 and 12,” said the ministry’s press release.

The soldier was “engaged for more than 30 years as a non-commissioned officer in the gendarmerie and served in the motorized platoon of Mandelieu-la-Napoule since 2007”the ministry continues.

“Our sadness is immense”reacted Gérald Darmanin, the resigning Minister of the Interior, on X. “Support for his family, his loved ones and his brothers in arms”, he added. The author of the refusal to comply “actively sought”assures Gérald Darmanin.

“We mourn, once again, one of our comrades who paid with his life for his commitment to the safety of all.”wrote on X the director general of the national gendarmerie, Christian Rodriguez. “All my affection to his family and his comrades”, he adds.