Tour de France: Press car hits barriers at finish, injuring eight spectators

Eight spectators were injured, one seriously, when a press vehicle crashed into barriers near the finish line of the Tour de France's 9th stage in Ussel, France. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Sunday, shortly before the cyclists were due to arrive.

The driver of the vehicle, belonging to the newspaper L'Équipe, reportedly felt unwell less than 500 meters from the finish line. This led to the car veering off course and colliding with the barriers, striking spectators positioned behind them. The seriously injured individual's condition is critical, though their life is not in danger. The other seven sustained minor injuries.

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felt unwell

The public prosecutor's office in Tulle has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The driver was not taken into custody. Notably, this 9th stage of the Tour de France, which was won by Dutch cyclist Mathieu Van der Poel in a sprint, had been shortened by 30 kilometers due to the extreme heatwave in the Corrèze region. This decision marked an unprecedented measure in the 113-year history of the race for such a reason.

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one of them is in absolute emergency on Sunday, without his vital prognosis being engaged, and the seven other people are slightly injured