Nîmes Hit-and-Run: 17-Year-Old Arrested After Eight-Year-Old Boy Killed
An eight-year-old boy died Tuesday, February 17th, in Nîmes, France, after being struck by a vehicle while on his way to school. The driver allegedly fled the scene before being apprehended by police. Five other individuals have also been taken into custody.
Parents and students remain shaken outside the school where the young boy was a student, following the violent collision. Many parents were dropping off their children at the time of the incident. “We heard a crash. When we turned our heads, we saw the little boy tumbling. We didn’t understand anything. It was violent. The car didn’t slow down, it just sped off. I tried to shield my daughter’s eyes,” recounted one mother.
The accident occurred near a bus stop in Nîmes, at a pedestrian crossing. The boy was preparing to cross the street, approximately 200 meters from his school, when he was hit by a car that immediately left the scene. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries. “The vehicle, having run a red light and traveling at a very high speed, overtook another vehicle that was stopped in front of the pedestrian crossing. It was therefore driving against the flow of traffic. It very violently struck the child,” explained Cécile Gensac, the Public Prosecutor of Nîmes.
Police apprehended a suspect mid-day. The individual is 17 years old and was reportedly driving without a license, in a rented vehicle. He is known to law enforcement for prior involvement with drug trafficking, according to authorities.
The boy’s parents expressed their shock and anger, stating they had repeatedly requested increased police presence to ensure the safety of children walking to school. “We have always asked for speed bumps during school council meetings with elected officials. Because we see what’s happening. We see the reckless driving. So we know that sooner or later, something would happen. Today, we have lost a life,” a parent stated.
Five other people were also taken into custody and are being held for questioning, suspected of attempting to recover the vehicle used in the hit-and-run.
