18 July 2009 - 14H59
Roadside spectator dies in motorcycle accident
One Tour de France spectator has been killed and two others injured after being hit by a police motorbike on the 14th stage, the French gendarmerie has confirmed. It was the first fatal accident on the Tour since 2002.
REUTERS - One person was killed in an accident involving a motorcycle on the Tour de France, the French gendarmerie said on Saturday.
"We can confirm that one person has died. The circumstances are still somewhat unclear," Alain Fontaine, a spokesman for the gendarmerie, told Reuters.
"A woman crossed the road and was hit by a Republican Guardsman on a motorcycle. Then the motorcycle slid and hit one or two more people."
The Republican Guard are the ceremonial unit of the gendarmerie.
The accident happened after the 38.5-km mark, in the town of Wittelsheim, on the route of the 14th stage of the three-week cycle race over 199 kms from Colmar to Besancon.
It was the first fatal accident on the Tour since 2002, when a child died after being hit by a car from the publicity caravan.
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Comments
Tour de France RTA
Was on the Tourmalet last Sunday 12th July and every time I see the tour I'm surprised there's not lots of accidents. Amazing how casual people are criss-crossing the road and closing the route by encroaching. Unbelievable.