A head-on collision on the RN20 in the French Pyrenees on Friday led to numerous casualties – among them two children. The accident happened at around 15:00 in Savignac-les-Ormeaux, Ariège.
Four other victims are in a critical condition in hospital. The site of the crash was on the main link between Toulouse and Andorra, Franceinfo reported.
In a statement, the public prosecutor Amélie Robin described the accident as "Very shocking" and gave details about the vehicles and their passengers:
"What is believed to be a family of a man, a woman, and two children were driving in a Toyota with a French number plate. All inside were killed. The other vehicle was a Peugeot Expert registered in Spain; two occupants (a man and a woman) lost their lives, and four more were injured. Two are in critical care, including the driver of the Spanish car."
Immediate response and investigation
Those injured were airlifted to hospitals in Toulouse and Ariège (Chiva). Ambulance services have now left the scene but police continue the investigation. An inquest into involuntary homicide has been opened.
Accident en Ariège : six morts, dont deux enfants et quatre blessés, dont deux personnes en urgence absolue après la collision entre une voiture et un véhicule utilitaire (préfet / France Bleu). pic.twitter.com/cuVM38w6i3
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) August 19, 2022
Initial investigations indicate that the Spanish vehicle swerved to the left for a still unknown reason. However, it is difficult to ascertain the exact position of the cars before the collision.
The road remained closed in both directions overnight with traffic deviated via Ax-les-Thermes, leading to numerous traffic jams.
