Two large cars came to a stop in the middle of rue du Rhin-Napoléon, near the Comptoir agricole. A BMW 7 Series flipped on its roof. A few meters away, a BMW X5 had its front end completely blown off after hitting a tree. This damage suggests excessive speed on this narrow track which runs alongside a railway line.
A large number of rescue resources – 57 firefighters on board 26 vehicles – were dispatched to the scene of the accident. When they arrived, two women had already died. A third victim, a man who was in cardio-respiratory arrest, died a little later despite attempts at resuscitation.
A brawl at the origin of the drama
Three other people were taken care of by the firefighters in absolute urgency, according to a report established at the end of the day by the prefecture of Bas-Rhin. They were transported to hospital services with a very reserved life prognosis – the Dragon 67 helicopter was mobilized. Three other people were taken care of in relative emergency, including the daughter of a shocked victim after arriving at the scene.
The police also went to the scene to secure the area around the accident. While the bodies of the victims were still on the road, covered with a white sheet, relatives from the Traveler community crowded behind the rubalise, letting out pain and anger. Gunshots were reportedly heard.
According to the first elements collected, a brawl would have broken out shortly before. The various protagonists would be mounted in several cars, the violence giving way to a chase.
The Strasbourg public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation, entrusted to the zonal direction of the judicial police, to try to determine the precise circumstances of this accident.
