Antoine & Pierre Arnould's Fatal Crash @ Istres 2016 (Aftermath)
A fatal accident occurred on Saturday, 14 May 2016 during practice for the 44th edition of the Istres regional hillclimb. As a result of the crash, a 44-year-old man and his son, aged 9, were killed.
One of the competing cars, the Ford Focus #87 driven by Claude Bertrand, went out of control while running along the departmental road N. 16 just outside the small town of Istres, towards Saint-Chamas nearly Miramas, department of Bouches-du-Rhône, southern France. At the exit of a fast bend the car left the road, crossed a 35-meter long run-off area and rolled over, mowing down several people standing back from the track behind some trees.
At least four people were struck by the out of control car. Captain Pierre Arnould, 44, was killed almost instantly. His son Antoine Arnould, 9, was seriously injured in the accident. The child was taken by helicopter to Martigues hospital and later was transferred to the intensive care unit of the Hôpital Nord de Marseille. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission. A couple of 56 and 58 years were slightly injured. The driver Claude Bertrand, aged 60, escaped injury.
After the tragedy, the practice session was immediately stopped. The Mayor of Istres, François Bernardini issued an order canceling the event which was scheduled to be contested the following morning. 115 cars were entered in the hillclimb, accounting for the Coupe de France de la Montagne.
R.I.P
One of the competing cars, the Ford Focus #87 driven by Claude Bertrand, went out of control while running along the departmental road N. 16 just outside the small town of Istres, towards Saint-Chamas nearly Miramas, department of Bouches-du-Rhône, southern France. At the exit of a fast bend the car left the road, crossed a 35-meter long run-off area and rolled over, mowing down several people standing back from the track behind some trees.
At least four people were struck by the out of control car. Captain Pierre Arnould, 44, was killed almost instantly. His son Antoine Arnould, 9, was seriously injured in the accident. The child was taken by helicopter to Martigues hospital and later was transferred to the intensive care unit of the Hôpital Nord de Marseille. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission. A couple of 56 and 58 years were slightly injured. The driver Claude Bertrand, aged 60, escaped injury.
After the tragedy, the practice session was immediately stopped. The Mayor of Istres, François Bernardini issued an order canceling the event which was scheduled to be contested the following morning. 115 cars were entered in the hillclimb, accounting for the Coupe de France de la Montagne.
R.I.P