04/26/24
July 19, 2009
Spectator killed during Tour de France: One woman was killed and two others injured after being hit by a Republican Guardsman driving a motorcycle. It was the first fatal accident on the Tour since 2002, when a child died after being hit by a car from the publicity caravan.
Tragic. But what amazes me is that this doesn't happen more often given the access onlookers are permitted.
posted by MW12 at 08:52 AM on July 19, 2009
From the story:
An assistant to a prosecutor cleared the Republican Guardsman riding the motorcycle of any wrongdoing.
"The investigation does not show any wrongdoing from the man riding the motorcycle. We are certain the victim has died because of her imprudence," Alexandre Chevrier told a news conference.
The accident had just happened and this "assistant to a prosecutor" -- whatever that means -- was certain of the cause. That doesn't engender much confidence.
posted by rcade at 03:47 PM on July 19, 2009
That doesn't engender much confidence.
I don't see the problem. I don't know how long after the accident this quote was made, but I think a full investigation, gathering all necessary evidence, and making a conclusion could be done in a few hours.
[A]ccording to witnesses, the woman, Jeannette Stoeffel, 61, had been seen crossing the road many times before she was hit by the motorcycle going at 90 kph.
It would not take long to speak with all the witnesses on the scene. If the witnesses all said she ran right in front of a motorcycle going about 55 mph, I can't think of any other necessary investigation that would make me more comfortable with the conclusion. (DNA samples? Autopsy results? Background investigation of the driver (possibly already available and considered)? Background investigation of the victim?).
posted by Aardhart at 08:02 PM on July 19, 2009
I don't know how it is in France, but here accident investigations are not concluded hours after the incident on the authority of a single person. My guess is that this official didn't have the authority to say what he did.
posted by rcade at 12:56 PM on July 20, 2009
I am one of those people that believes that 99.99999% of the time when a pedestrian is killed in a roadway it is the fault of the pedestrian. Now if a vehicle loses control and winds up on the shoulder or sidewalk it is different, or if the vehicle driver intentionally runs someone down, but lets face it, the minute you step into the road, regardless of right of way, you owe it to your self to keep clear of moving vehicles. If you don't have a clear view as to whats coming, do step into the road.
I agree that it doesn't take more investigation to determine the motorcyclist was not at fault.
posted by Atheist at 01:04 PM on July 20, 2009
At the very least, hopefully this incident will force the powers that be of the Tour to do something about the roadside crowds. I understand that there is a tradition of spectators being up close to the riders and having a bit of interaction, but when you have riders getting so frustrated that they have to reach out on both sides and shove costumed idiots out of their pathway, as Contador did yesterday, shit's got to change.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:42 PM on July 20, 2009
Cadel Evans, one racer who rode by after the accident, tweeted thusly.