Thirteen people were injured, including one person in critical condition, after a 93-year-old man lost control of his car and drove into a restaurant terrace in Narbonne, southern France, according to Midi Libre.
The newspaper reported that the crash happened on Saturday, May 31, shortly after 1 p.m. near the restaurant Le Mongelli on quai Vallière. The vehicle first hit a pole, then struck diners seated on the terrace before ending up against a tree. The driver had reportedly suffered a medical episode and then lost control of the car.
Emergency services treated the wounded at the scene and transported the most seriously injured victim by helicopter to the university hospital in Montpellier. Seven other victims were taken to Narbonne hospital with less serious injuries, while the remaining people were said to be in shock. The driver was also among those treated at hospital.
The description given by the restaurant owner underlines the violence of the impact. He told the paper that the scene felt like an attack because of the noise, the speed and the suddenness of the crash. That reaction was echoed by witnesses who described shouting, panic and the force of the collision.
Midi Libre reported that the vehicle first passed an intersection near an автобус stop, then turned onto the quai before the driver appears to have lost control. The car then struck the restaurant area and continued until it hit a tree. The account suggests a sequence of impact, impact and final stop rather than a single abrupt crash.
The accident prompted a police investigation led by officers in Narbonne. The immediate focus is likely to be the driver’s medical condition and whether a sudden illness caused the loss of control. In incidents involving elderly motorists, investigators often look closely at health, reaction time and vehicle trajectory to determine whether the crash was caused by a collapse, a mechanical problem or a combination of factors.
The injury count makes the incident one of the more serious road accidents in the area in recent memory. Even when caused by illness rather than intent, a vehicle striking a crowded terrace can leave a deep emotional imprint on a community because it happens in a place associated with leisure and ordinary daily life.
The driver’s age will likely add to public debate about road safety and medical fitness to drive. But the report is careful on the key point: the crash appears to have followed a malaise, and the investigation is still under way.
For Narbonne, the immediate priority is the recovery of the injured. For investigators, the question is how a medical emergency turned into a violent collision that left a restaurant terrace devastated and a city shaken.
