Eiffage will not make "
any comments
".
The transnational construction company was nevertheless indicted for manslaughter after the tragic school bus accident on February 11, 2016 in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime.
Six teenagers were killed at 7.16 a.m. that morning, sheared by the side of a dump truck crossed on the way to their school establishment.
Two other young people had been seriously injured by this utility belonging to the Eiffage group.
This indictment, decided by the investigating judge of La Rochelle, dates back to last November.
But the families of the victims, like their lawyers, have only just learned about it.
"
I have received a letter in recent days, we had not had any news for almost two years"
, testifies Anthony Coupeau, the older brother of Bastien Coupeau who died when he had just celebrated his 18th birthday on January 27th.
This indictment is for him a very good thing
, "the group being as responsible as the driver".
"
It's a relief,
" reacts Sandrine Audet, the mother of Florian, the "youngest" of her three children, then 15 years old.
“I was in tears when I heard the news.
At least something has moved.
"
In this case, only the driver from Rochefort - 24 years old at the time of the facts - had hitherto been indicted for manslaughter and unintentional injury.
His 13 tonne truck had just left its depot, empty, and was traveling at 49 km / h with its left side drop side tilted at 90 °.
One meter long, this metal panel had struck the coach at the height of the windshield, sawing it through and through and killing the passengers seated near the windows.
Almost five years after this tragedy with national repercussions, the investigation of this complex file is still not completed.
The indictment of the construction giant gave hope to the civil parties.
"
Eiffage has its share of responsibility, the driver cannot be the only one to be judged
", estimates Sandrine Audet.
A position shared by Alexandra Moreau, whose son, Yoni Havy, had just turned 17: “
It was February 10, we were to celebrate her birthday the following Saturday… I couldn't even give her her gift.
This indictment is normal: the truck belonged to Eiffage, everyone must assume their responsibilities
. ”
By dint of in-depth technical expertise, we obtained an expert report that incriminates the vehicle and, by correlation, its owner.
Thierry Sagardoytho, lawyer
His lawyer, Me Brice Giret, impatiently awaited this indictment: "
For two years already ... They had all the elements but they were slow to seize them
."
If it is appropriate to make progress, he now fears "
a technical and legal debate referred to the figure of the civil parties
".
If Eiffage has not appealed against this decision, notes Me Brice Giret, the group could appeal against the referral order preceding the criminal trial.
The driver's lawyer since autumn 2016, Thierry Sagardoytho, also welcomes this indictment.
“
This is the logical evolution of expertise and the investigation.
The maintenance of the vehicle and its compliance with standards undeniably pose a difficulty in the occurrence of the tragedy.
By dint of in-depth technical expertise, we obtained an expert report that incriminates the vehicle and, by correlation, its owner,
”he says.
Like the other civil parties, Anthony Coupeau, for his part, has trouble digesting the “
inertia and slowness
” of justice.
In a letter of January 21, the judge also recognizes a "
judicial time
[...]
long
" and "
pray for
[the]
apologize
."
The "
many time-consuming expertises
" and "
the complexity of the facts
" would be at the origin of this delay, explains the magistrate who promises "
soon an outcome
".