Policeman killed during refusal to comply near Cannes, fleeing driver actively sought

Le gendarme a été tué lors d’un refus d’obtempérer. Illustration Archive Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

The soldier was conducting a road check. The driver allegedly forced his way through. The deceased gendarme was the father of two children aged 12 and 16.

A police officer died on Monday evening at around 8:40 p.m. after being hit by a vehicle that allegedly refused to comply in Mougins, near Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes), BFMTV andLe Figaro learned from police and firefighter sources.

The soldier was conducting a traffic check at the exit onto the Route du Cannet when the driver allegedly forced his way through. In cardio-respiratory arrest, the emergency services were unable to resuscitate him.

Neighboring countries alerted

The hit-and-run driver is driving a black BMW sedan, reports BFMTV, confirming information from Actu 17.

All the gendarmerie groups in the Alpes-Maritimes are mobilized to try to find him, supported by units from other departments and a helicopter.

Roadblocks have been set up and neighboring countries, starting with Italy, have been alerted.

“This evening, a police officer was fatally hit by a vehicle on the A8 motorway near Mougins, in the Alpes-Maritimes,reacted on the social network X the resigned Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin. The author of this refusal to comply, on the run, is actively sought. Our sadness is immense. Support for his family, loved ones and brothers in arms."

"Once again we lose one of our own"

The deputy of Alpes-Maritimes Éric Ciotti shared on the social network X his "immense emotion" and expressed "his anger" after this tragedy which “recalls the immense courage of those who have made it their profession to protect the French”.

The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, also expressed his “deep sadness” and his “immense anger”.

Father of two children

"One of our valiant gendarmes from the Mandelieu motorway squad has just tragically lost his life in the exercise of his duty, mowed down by a wretch who refused to comply" commented, for his part, the mayor of Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Sébastien Leroy, on Facebook. Once again we have lost one of our own. Once too many. This can't go on like this."

The deceased gendarme was 54 years old. He was married and the father of two children aged 12 and 16.