Fatal accident at level crossing: overdose of drugs involved?

The cuddly toys and farewell words always pile up in the small square, opposite the level crossing of Avenay-Val-d'Or (Marne). A tribute to the four people who lost their lives a year ago, a 37-year-old childminder who drove the vehicle, as well as three children, struck by a TER in circumstances still unexplained.

The investigation opened for manslaughter against X however excluded any technical problem. And this, despite the numerous testimonies of residents who noted various incidents on this crossing, including one the day before the tragedy: barriers that do not go down, out of sync or going up too quickly ...

"More than 30 people came to the gendarmerie, and more than fifteen speak of a dysfunction," is surprised by AFP Cyril H., husband of Marie-Hélène, the driver, and father of Maëly , 11, also died in the accident. Like the parents of Adelaide, 3 years old, of whom Marie-Hélène H. had custody, he cannot bring herself to see these elements swept away with the back of her hand. All ask that "the investigations be relaunched".

"I can not resolve the fact that the SNCF does not see any problem and that everything is in order when a drama almost started again," said Aurore, Adelaide's mother. An allusion to the crossing barrier, mysteriously found folded this July 9 in the morning. Exactly as it was at the time of the drama last year…

The investigation has been directed for many months towards human error, even a possible suicide. With strangeness to the key. Toxicological expertise revealed the presence of antidepressants in the blood of Marie-Hélène H., "with an abnormal concentration, unrelated to her usual treatment", underlines a source close to the file. The maternal assistant did have a prescription, but at a minimal dose. And there is nothing to say that she would have built up stocks to voluntarily absorb them that day. Additional expertise is underway on this subject, with the hypothesis of a drug interaction.

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"In any case, it will be very difficult to know their impact," said the same source. Did she fall asleep because of the antidepressants? She had just gotten behind the wheel. Did she want to kill herself, did she stall when hitting the barrier without succeeding in restarting? We have no certainty, and we may never have ... ”