This Thursday, September 23, the festive atmosphere of Place Saint-Pierre, Toulouse’s Mecca of student life turned dark, almost drama, in a few seconds. Blame it on an accident which involved the driver of a minibus, a pedestrian and the driver of a scooter. An accident of which we especially remember the alcoholism of the driver: he was driving with an alcohol level of 2.24 g in his blood. Two injured were rushed to Purpan hospital and continue to receive treatment today.

Investigations established that the minibus had been stolen the day before, in Spain. His 45-year-old driver, who did not hold a driving license (!), Had been remanded in custody pending trial. He appeared this Friday before the Toulouse Criminal Court.

In the box of the defendants, this man domiciled in Spain, explains having gone to Toulouse “to see a rock concert” aboard the minibus that he knew had been stolen. However, he was prohibited from traveling on French territory. “I swung the steering wheel to avoid people on the road and I lost control of the vehicle,” he continues of the accident.

“I’m ashamed” sums up the driver

“If we recap: you were driving a stolen vehicle, without a license, alcoholic and you were not allowed to go to France. The court would like to know what you think of it, with hindsight, ”asks the president.

” I am ashamed. It was madness on my part. I apologize to the victims. I hope they will recover as soon as possible, ”replies the defendant, already convicted of drunk driving, in France but also in Spain. Traces of amphetamines and cocaine were also found during analyzes after the accident.

“He was driving with 2.24 g of alcohol in his blood. The ethyl coma is 3 g! The two victims were struck at the height of their lives. All this for a rock concert. I at least hope it was fun. It’s a miracle that there were no deaths, ”thunders the public prosecutor. It requires four years in prison with continued detention.

In defense, Me Guillaume Massé criticizes an organization of the place “accident-causing in its configuration”. “This man does not seek to reduce his responsibility but it takes a useful sentence, not excessive”, pleads this lawyer.

After deliberation, the driver is sentenced to three years in prison with continued detention. The court also ordered a ban from French territory for a period of 3 years. For the victims, Marie-Ange Alexis and Guy Dedieu obtained € 20,000 and € 3,000 in provisions pending the results of expert opinions and the future civil hearing.