A 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl riding the same scooter died on the evening of Monday August 22 in Lyon. According to the first elements of the investigation, the two teenagers were hit from behind by an ambulance after having swerved on a bus lane, in the 2nd arrondissement, learned franceinfo from a police source. They were not wearing helmets and died shortly after firefighters arrived at the scene. The ambulance driver was indicted on Wednesday for manslaughter and placed under judicial supervision, the Lyon prosecutor’s office announced. Franceinfo summarizes what we know about this case.
The two teenagers hit while traveling on a bus lane
Monday evening, around 6 p.m., a 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were two on the same scooter on a bus lane, when a private ambulance, which was going to intervene, hit them. The emergency services were called to intervene in the accident, which occurred on the Quai Maréchal-Joffre, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, according to the prosecution. According to the first elements of the investigation, the two young people were hit from behind after having swerved as the ambulance passed on the bus lane. The victims, who were not wearing helmets, were thrown several meters. “When we arrived at the scene, the two people, who were riding the same scooter at the time of the accident, were in cardiac arrest”explained to AFP a head of the department’s fire department. They died quickly.”
The ambulance went in intervention
The victims “were traveling on a bus lane and the ambulance that hit them was leaving for intervention”said a fire department official. According to six witnesses on the spot, the ambulance was traveling at very high speed. Some have declared that she had activated her siren and flashing light, but others contradict this version.
The ambulance driver was first hospitalized in shock, like his fellow passenger, before being taken into custody. The alcohol test carried out on his person turned out to be negative. The detection of narcotics was still being analyzed on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Lyon prosecutor’s office. An investigation of the head of manslaughter entrusted to the departmental directorate of public security of the Rhône has been opened.
The driver known for 28 traffic offenses
According to a police source, confirming information from RTL, the driver has a heavy record, including 28 traffic offenses in his name, such as excessive speeds and crossing white lines. Aged 36, he was driving with a probationary license on which he only had two points left out of eight. He had his first driving license withdrawn in 2019 after losing all his points. He was also known to the police for lack of insurance and driving a vehicle of a category higher than that authorized by his licence. He was put on trial for manslaughter and placed under judicial control, announced the parquet floor of Lyon on Wednesday.