Pierre Palmade sentenced to five years in prison, two of them firm, for a serious accident while under the influence of drugs

A verdict awaited almost two years after the tragedy

Nearly two years after causing a road accident in Seine-et-Marne while driving under the influence of drugs, 56-year-old Pierre Palmade went on trial this Wednesday for “aggravated involuntary injury”. The Melun criminal court sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment, including two years’ imprisonment, in line with the prosecutor’s request. The sentence was accompanied by an obligation to undergo medical treatment and work, as well as the cancellation of his driving license.

The actor, who remained impassive when the sentence was announced, will have to appear in the next few days before the public prosecutor in Bordeaux, where he now lives, to determine the terms of his detention. This verdict comes after the tragedy of February 10, 2023, when the comedian crashed a car head-on, causing serious injuries to several people and resulting in the loss of the baby of one of the victims.

Insufficient apology for the victims

At the hearing, Pierre Palmade made a point of apologizing to the civil parties. “I ask for your forgiveness from the bottom of my heart”, he declared, visibly moved, his voice hoarse. However, Mila, one of the victims who lost her unborn child in the accident, gave him a firm and categorical “no”. The comedian continued: “I’m overwhelmed and ashamed. I hope one day you’ll accept my apology. But what I did was inexcusable.”

A battle against a destructive addiction

Throughout the hearing, the debates revealed the extent of Pierre Palmade’s drug addiction, a scourge that has marked his life for over 30 years. On the stand, he admitted to massive consumption of cocaine and synthetic drugs, particularly in the days leading up to the accident. “The disease of addiction is much stronger than the will to stop,” he said, adding that his memories of the accident are non-existent.

Since the tragedy, he claims to be clean, under the care of specialists, and committed to a rehabilitation process. His sponsor at Narcotics Anonymous confirmed his efforts to turn his life around: “He’s putting all the odds on his side.”

An uncertain future

Pierre Palmade, an emblematic figure of comedy from 1990-2000, also spoke of his doubts about his ability to return to his profession: “The only thing I love is my life as an artist. But I’m not sure I can do it again.” Despite his personal reconstruction, the shadow of the accident still hangs over his career and family relationships.

A tragedy that marks a turning point for the comedian, confronted with the irreparable consequences of his actions.