Death of a French mechanic on the sidelines of the Paris-Dakar rally

(updated with details)

PARIS, Jan 14 (Reuters) – A French chief mechanic, Quentin Lavallée, was killed on Friday in Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the Paris-Dakar rally, in a collision between the assistance vehicle he was driving and a truck, announce the organizers (ASO) in a press release.

The passenger in the car, Belgian Maxime Frère, was injured and hospitalized in Jeddah, they said.

The accident happened around 11:30 a.m., on the assistance link road, at km 234, according to the Saudi police forces quoted by ASO. The truck involved in the collision was a local vehicle.

Quentin Lavallée, 20, died instantly. He held the position of chief mechanic for the 205 Turbo 16 of the PH Sport team. (Written by Sophie Louet, edited by Nicolas Delame)