The motorist who hit and caused the death of a cyclist in Paris was indicted for “murder” this Friday, October 18. While in police custody, he assured investigators that he had been “terrorized” by the 27-year-old man on a bicycle and had wanted to “run away”.
How could a motorist drive over a cyclist, causing the death of this 27-year-old man? The question was asked of the man suspected of having deliberately run over a cyclist in Paris on Tuesday October 15. Placed in police custody, the SUV driver was interviewed several times in the premises of the first judicial police district. According to him, it was an “accident”. But the 52-year-old father was still indicted for “murder” this Friday, October 18 and the Paris prosecutor’s office specifies that placement in pre-trial detention was requested and requested before the judge of freedoms and detentions.
The tragedy occurred at the end of the day on Tuesday October 15, on Boulevard Malesherbes, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The man says he was late while accompanying his 17-year-old daughter to an ophthalmology appointment. Being rather the type of person to arrive early, this delay, accentuated by the usual traffic jams at the end of the day in the Paris city center, would have pushed the motorist to commit a series of infractions: red light running, bus lane and cycle paths taken… Then comes this intersection between Boulevard Malesherbes and Rue Boissy d’Anglas, at the Madeleine Church. According to the SUV driver, reported by The Parisianhe would have “kindly” asked Paul Varry, the cyclist, to “move aside” to be able to take the cycle path. He allegedly refused, accusing the motorist of running over his foot. He then allegedly “banged like crazy” on the hood of the car.
For the public prosecutor, it was rather a matter of “alerting the driver”, who would then have “backed up, freeing the foot” of Paul Varry, who would have let go of his bike, then would have positioned himself at the front left of the car , “demonstrating his dissatisfaction”.
The driver then turned his wheels towards the cyclist and then moved forward. “The autopsy confirmed the marks of the vehicle crossing the body,” specifies the accusation. The video surveillance shows an elevation of the front, then the rear of the left side of the vehicle”, explains the prosecution. After the tragedy, the driver got out of the car and realized the situation by seeing the bloody face of the cyclist. He asked his daughter to contact the firefighters, but it was too late. Paul Varry died from his injuries despite the intervention of the emergency services.
“I am not a murderer”
In police custody, the father suspected of murder spoke to investigators, describing himself as “pacifist”, even “too nice”. He said he was “terrorized” by the “hatred” of the cyclist and assured that he had tried to “flee”. “I am not a murderer,” he assured investigators. For his part, his lawyer explained to BFMTV that “he would never have intentionally driven over someone”. A version which does not fit with that of the witnesses, who describe a violent scene as well as the intentional nature of the driver.
“These acts must be severely condemned”, believes Anne Hidalgo
The scene took place at an intersection between Boulevard Malesherbes and Rue Boissy d’Anglas. The intersection is considered dangerous by local residents. In fact, vehicles must respect a give way and ensure that there are no cyclists before entering. “The first witnesses having perceived a voluntary attitude on the part of the driver during the movement of the car towards the cyclist, an investigation into murder was opened”, confirms the Paris prosecutor’s office to France Blue Paris. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, reacted by demanding extreme severity against the perpetrator: “It is unacceptable to die today in Paris, at the age of 27, while cycling. These acts must be severely condemned “, declared the city councilor. “SUVs have nothing to do in the city. They are nonsense for safety as well as for the environment,” judges Jacques Baudrier, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of Housing and Ecological Transition. of the Building.
From now on, the police’s findings are ongoing. “The duty magistrate is on site” and “the terms of the investigation are being evaluated and will be clarified later”, specifies the Paris prosecutor’s office.News 17.
A gathering on Wednesday at Place de la Madeleine
The day after his death, a gathering in tribute to Paul Varry was organized at Place de la Madeleine, close to the scene of the tragedy. Several hundred people gathered this Wednesday, October 16. Candles and flowers were left for the man who had made the place of cycling in the city a real fight. He “fought for a peaceful city, so that we could cycle safely” greeted Anne Monarché, president of the Paris en saddle collective, present during the tribute. Among the cyclists present at the tribute, the discourse is similar: it is dangerous to cycle in Paris because of the dangerous driving of motorists, and this tragedy is an example.
The city of Saint-Ouen is shocked by the death at the age of 27 of Paul Varry, intentionally killed by a motorist while he was cycling in the streets of the 8th arrondissement of Paris. pic.twitter.com/965OYkPthc
— City of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine (@villesaintouen) October 16, 2024
A gathering will also be organized by the town of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, where Paul Varry comes from. In 2023, 226 cyclists died on the roads of France. This is the third year in a row that the threshold of 200 deaths has been crossed.