The Bureau of Land Transport Accident Investigation (BEA-TT) has just issued its conclusions on the accident that occurred on July 15, 2019 between a train and a car on a level crossing at Avenay-Val- d'Or (Marne).
An accident that killed four: the driver of the car, a 37-year-old childminder, her 10-year-old daughter and two 3-year-old and 10-month-old children she was carrying.
Four travelers in the TER had been slightly injured.
“The direct cause of the accident is the non-stop of the light vehicle at the closed level crossing.
The presence in the body of the driver of a drug in a toxic dose very likely played a role in the occurrence of the accident by altering her driving abilities, ”explains the investigation report posted on November 9 on the BEA-TT website and revealed by the Union newspaper.
And to continue, "the expertises carried out on the light vehicle, on the train and on the equipment of the level crossing did not reveal any indication which could lead to consider that a technical problem could have been the cause or a factor of the occurrence. of this accident ”, adds the BEA-TT.
" The investigation is still ongoing "
For the Reims prosecutor, Matthieu Bourrette, “this report is part of other elements of the case.
The investigation opened for manslaughter against X is still ongoing, ”he said.
“I am still waiting for some expertise.
Hope I can get them as soon as possible to complete the investigation quickly.
"
Lawyers for the victims were outraged by the publication of this report online.
"It's brutal to find this report online without the parents being warned, as is the custom," explained Maître Gérard Chemla, the lawyer for two of the three families of victims, including that of the driver. which continues to blame this tragedy on the malfunctions of the crossing.
The lawyer also said to await the result of "additional investigations in progress", also mentioned by the prosecution.
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Because according to him, the level crossing is in question.
"And the driver of the straddle carrier who found himself between two barriers on July 15, 2020, was he on psychotropic drugs?"
He says.
Indeed, one year exactly after this tragedy, a wine tractor was found stuck a few centimeters from the track with the barrier on the passenger compartment while a train was arriving.