“It's an absolute tragedy, the little one was not even 3 years old.
The police are still in shock this Thursday morning.
The day before, around 6:15 p.m., a traffic accident claimed the life of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Mantes-la-Ville (Yvelines).
The unthinkable happened on the avenue de la Grande-Halle.
While a Renault Kangoo is traveling at reduced speed on this axis limited to 50 km/h, the child suddenly crosses.
Surprised, the 22-year-old driver did not have time to react and hit her.
“The little one was playing with other children on the side of the road, she was not holding her mother's hand, explains a police source.
There is no traffic light or pedestrian crossing at this location.
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Several witnesses of the scene try to resuscitate her, as do the rescuers who arrive quickly, but nothing helps.
The little girl dies instantly.
Shocked, the driver of the Kangoo is taken care of by the police.
Alcohol and narcotics tests are negative.
On the instructions of the Versailles prosecutor's office, she was placed in police custody for manslaughter.
Circumstances to be determined
“Is her vehicle compliant, was she on the phone and careless?
We will check all that, continues this same source.
It is also possible that the investigation finds an insurmountable circumstance with the child who tumbled under its wheels, which would lead to a lack of criminal liability.
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In a state of shock, the mother of the victim could not be heard by the police.
She was treated at the Mantes-la-Jolie hospital center.
A psychological unit was also set up to accommodate witnesses to the scene, who were also traumatized.
The 17-year-old girl who was in the passenger seat of the Kangoo was heard by the investigators before finding her relatives.