Following a tragic head-on collision that he caused while under the influence of cocaine, a well-known French comedian known for his battle with drug addiction is now being charged.
Three passengers in the other car were seriously hurt in the collision caused by 54-year-old Pierre Palmade south of Paris.
Baby lost during pregnancy. Intensive care is being provided for her brother-in-law and his son, who is six years old.
After the collision, two young men in their 20s fled from Mr. Palmade's vehicle and are reportedly being sought by police.
French society has been shocked by the accident, which occurred on a side road in the village of Villiers-en-Bière last Friday evening.
The well-liked 54-year-old comic actor has appeared in several Asterix movies and is well-known for his TV and theater roles, but his struggles with drug addiction have long been publicized. Even though he was admitted to intensive care, his condition has since stabilized. .
Mr. Palmade's sister Hélène made a statement after visiting him in the hospital on Tuesday, saying that he was "waking up little by little and is realizing the horror of what has happened, what he caused," adding that "he's devastated, he's ashamed.".
Charges against the performer for driving while impaired by drugs and causing injuries through reckless driving are anticipated. However, if it turns out that the baby, a girl, was alive when she was delivered via Caesarean section in the hospital following the accident, he could be charged with involuntary homicide, a more serious crime.
Her brother-in-law had offered to drive the mother of the infant in the other car home with his son after she visited her in-laws. The 38-year-old man is a father of three, raising a son who is 8 years old and a baby who is 7 months old.
Mourad Battikh, the family's attorney, explained at a press conference how the 27-year-old woman was able to exit the vehicle following the collision before passing out. She was repeatedly yelling, "My baby, my baby!" as he described her as "instinctively thinking about the baby she had in her womb.".
She was due to give birth in May, and it was her first child. She was distraught and wished to remain anonymous so that she could work on putting her life back together, the attorney said.
Her brother-in-law, who was crushed between the seat and the steering wheel, is still in intensive care. He has undergone six operations in the last few days.
The accident left his son with a fractured jaw and disfigurement, the attorney continued.
The comedian's apology was rejected by the family, who the lawyer described as ordinary and hard-working. They stated they wanted to see him arrested as soon as possible without giving him any special treatment due to his notoriety.
Earlier, according to Mr. Palmade's sister, he "will accept all the consequences of his actions with the terrible knowledge that he can never repair the damage he has caused.".
In 1995, the comedian was found guilty of consuming cocaine; in 2019, he was detained once more for a drug offense. He has been very candid about his addiction issues and has frequently discussed them in media interviews.
The debate over drugged driving and the need for more frequent checks has been rekindled in response to the accident.
