Drama in Paris: Motorist suspected in death of cyclist, police custody extended

A motorist is suspected of having fatally struck a 27-year-old cyclist with his SUV on Tuesday October 15 in Paris, following an altercation. Although he pleaded accident, his police custody was extended by 24 hours on Wednesday October 16 by the Paris public prosecutor’s office.

Only one interrogation so far

According to our sources, investigators only questioned the suspect once on Wednesday. He maintained his version of events, pleading that it was a tragic accident. Further questioning is scheduled for Thursday October 17, before the driver is likely to be transferred to an examining magistrate.

A motorist who claims his innocence

Preliminary investigations reveal that the cyclist was riding on an unseparated cycle path on Boulevard Malesherbes when he was cut off by the SUV, causing him to fall. Witnesses report that the 52-year-old motorist ran over the cyclist’s foot. In response, the cyclist got up and hit the hood of the vehicle, expressing his anger.

In police custody, the motorist is described as “distraught”, claiming innocence of any malicious intent, according to his lawyer. According to his lawyer, the driver was on his way to a medical appointment for his 16-year-old daughter and, caught in traffic jams, took the bicycle lane to save time. After the cyclist hit his hood and shouted that he was running over his foot, the driver tried to reverse quickly.

A tragic accident

It was during this maneuver that the fatal accident occurred, causing the young cyclist’s death almost instantly. “My client, shocked, immediately got out of the car to try to help the victim. He tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail”, asserts the lawyer, stressing that his client, a technical salesman who travels around 150,000 km a year, would never have intentionally committed such an act. According to a police source, he still had 8 of the 12 points on his license.

Next judicial steps

The driver will spend another night in police custody before being questioned again by investigators from the 1st district of the judicial police on Thursday. The Paris public prosecutor’s office will then have to decide what action to take. It is likely that a judicial inquiry will be opened, and that the suspect will be presented to an examining magistrate.