A horrific tragedy struck this small rural village in the north of Gard, bordering Ardèche, on Saturday, November 22, in the early evening. Around 6:30 PM, on the departmental road RD 904, a car struck two teenagers – a boy and a girl aged 15 – who were walking on the roadside near a local restaurant. The two youths, from the neighboring town of Saint-Ambroix and celebrating a family birthday, did not survive the impact, which was declared fatal on-site despite the massive intervention of emergency services. In a chilling secondary incident, the father of one of the victims, a man in his forties, was also hit by another vehicle as he crossed the road to provide assistance. He sustained multiple injuries and was airlifted to the hospital in Alès, but his life is not in danger. Three other individuals, either witnesses or relatives, were taken for examinations.
A Festive Evening Turned into a Nightmare on a Dark Road
The sun had set an hour before the catastrophe struck. The two teenagers, inseparable friends attending the Saint-Ambroix middle school, were walking home from a birthday party held at a roadside restaurant, just outside the village of Saint-Brès – a community of 1,200 nestled in the Cévennes region, known for its winding and poorly lit roads. According to initial testimonies gathered by the gendarmerie, they were walking on the shoulder, heading towards Uzès, when the first vehicle – an SUV driven by a 50-year-old man – hit them head-on. “The impact was incredibly violent. The bodies were thrown several meters away,” described a firefighter from the Gard SDIS who participated in the response.
Emergency services were alerted at 6:40 PM and arrived in force: ten fire trucks, including four ambulances and a rescue van, along with the Alès SMUR and a Dragon 30 helicopter from Montpellier. Twenty-two firefighters fought to revive the victims, but to no avail. The father, alerted by phone, rushed to the scene, crossing the road in panic. A second vehicle struck him, worsening the chaos. “It was a scene of horror, with screams and cries everywhere,” recounted a local resident interviewed by *Midi Libre*. The driver of the first vehicle, shocked and injured, was hospitalized; the second driver, unharmed, was interviewed as a witness.
Investigation Assigned to Gendarmes: Custody and Accident Theory Favored
The gendarmerie brigade from Saint-Ambroix, attached to the Alès company, has opened a judicial investigation for “involuntary manslaughter” and “involuntary injuries.” The driver of the SUV, a 50-year-old local man, was placed in custody for “road homicide” upon his release from the hospital. Toxicological and alcohol tests are underway, but Alès prosecutor Raphaël Balland favors the theory of an accident linked to “the early darkness of November and possible excessive speed.” There were no signs of fleeing or hit-and-run; the RD 904, limited to 80 km/h on this straight stretch but bordered by curves, was unlit. Technical examinations of the vehicles and a reconstruction are planned for this week.
A witness appeal targets drivers present between 6:15 PM and 6:45 PM: contact the gendarmerie at 04 66 60 80 00. The road was closed until 11 PM, with diversions via D904 bis.
A Village in Mourning: “A Collective Trauma”
Saint-Brès, this corner of Gard countryside where lavender fields meet the vineyards of Côtes-du-Rhône, is in shock. The mayor, Jean-Pierre Charpentier, speaks of a “trauma for the community”: “It’s a tragedy that reminds us of our vulnerabilities. We already lost a young person here in 2019 on a scooter. These roads are beautiful, but deadly at night.” The two teenagers, described as “sunshines, always together,” were in their third year and dreamed of manual professions – he as a mechanic, she as a hairdresser.
A candlelight vigil is organized this Sunday evening at the town hall, followed by a white march on Sunday, November 30. The family, supported by an online fundraising campaign that has already raised €10,000, is preparing for joint funerals. The Association for Road Safety in Gard (ASR 30) calls for solar lights and sidewalks on the RD 904.
This tragedy raises the number of fatalities on Gard roads in 2025 to 28, a figure that has increased by 10%. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the families, the injured father, and the devastated community of Saint-Brès. The editorial team will continue to follow the investigation and report on developments. May these angels watch over their heavenly roads.
