The driver hit a tree in his escape, on the night of Friday to Saturday. The man then left his vehicle near the Cher, in which he threw himself.
The driver of a vehicle drowned in the Cher on the night of Friday to Saturday in Tours, throwing himself into the river to escape a police check, announced the public prosecutor of Tours.
A first investigation for refusal to comply was entrusted to the Tours judicial police branch, while a second investigation into the causes of death was entrusted to the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), said prosecutor Grégoire Dulin.
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According to the first elements of the investigation, the man, aged 35, held a valid driving license, said the magistrate. His criminal record mentions two convictions for acts related to violations of the Highway Code.
“On September 10 at 3:20 a.m., a rescue police team from the Tours police station with four police officers on board was overtaken at a red light by an individual traveling alone in a Citroën C4 type vehicle. Noting that the vehicle was traveling at high speed, he decided to follow it (…) to carry out its check“, Details the prosecution in a press release.
A tree hit in the run
Still according to the magistrate, the driver then refused to comply despite the use of the flashing light by the police, hitting a tree in his flight. The man then left his vehicle near the Cher. Pursued by the police, who failed to hit him with their taser, he then threw himself into the river.
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“A policeman rushed into the Cher to help him without succeeding. The firefighters of Tours were immediately called upon and carried out rescue operations with the help of several divers. After more than 30 minutes of searching, the driver of the vehicle was found unconscious in the river. In cardiorespiratory arrest and despite attempts at resuscitation, he died on the spot“, According to the press release.
An autopsy will take place on Monday at the Forensic Institute of Tours and toxicological samples will be taken in this context, added the prosecution on Saturday evening.