It does not lead far in the glass box of the courtroom of the correctional court of Bordeaux. Kévin Pallas, 32, in detention for almost two months, was tried on Wednesday for “involuntary violence resulting in less than three months total interruption of work (ITT) “. After losing control of his vehicle, he injured 13 people during a gathering of car enthusiasts on April 14 in Bordeaux-Lac. The victims suffer trauma to the legs, neck or back at different levels of severity and some are also marked by psychological sequelae. Having consumed neither alcohol nor narcotics that day, the 30-year-old with a clean record tells the bar that he was “led by the crowd”.
Kévin Pallas was sentenced to three years in prison, including 24 months suspended, the obligation to compensate the victims and to complete a road safety course. The twelve months firm are arranged with placement under electronic surveillance at home. His lawyer had insisted on his state of health “incompatible with detention”. Suffering from myopathy (serious neuromuscular disease), the thirties could not follow his physiotherapy exercises in detention and found himself unable to climb the stairs. His driver’s license was suspended for a year and his vehicle confiscated.
A very impressionable young man
On the evening of the accident, like every Friday near the Conforma in Bordeaux-Lac, a demonstration of racing car enthusiasts making their engines roar is organized via social networks. Convinced by friends, Kévin Pallas goes there at the wheel of his gray Citroën C3, taking on board three acquaintances who do not have a license. “His car has no particular color or decor,” points out Matthieu Lanouzière, the president of the court. And for good reason, he is not a fan of “runs” or “urban rodeos”.
This C3, Kévin Pallas bought it on credit to go to work in a logistics company which has employed him for five years on a permanent contract. Suffering from myopathy, he has a disabled worker status but managed to get this full-time job. The 30-year-old is placed under reinforced curatorship, in particular for the management of his budget and the experts who examined him speak of a “particularly influenceable” character, reports the president of the court.
On the evening of April 14, intoxicated by the atmosphere of the moment and the admiring crowd, Kévin Pallas gets in line to ride on the roadway where the tuned cars parade. His passengers agree to give it a try, but he takes a liking to it and wants to try his luck again. He even exclaims “I’m a pilot”, according to prosecutor Caroline Maxwell, who reports the words of one of the passengers, during the short investigation. “He is relatively weak, easily influenced and easily overwhelmed,” comments his lawyer Valentine Poret. On the third pass, he lost control of his vehicle in a bend on a slippery road, knocking down 13 people who were attending the demonstration. After the accident, he flees, which particularly revolts the victims.
A desperate hit-and-run?
“I had my passengers in tears, I was afraid that we would be hit, I panicked and I wanted to leave the place”, tries to explain Kévin Pallas, hands crossed behind his back. He was chased by some of the participants in the car and even got hit in the face on the Aquitaine bridge, on which he did not want to stop so as not to take any additional risks. He will park in a parking lot in Lormont. While his passengers will leave to take the tram, the thirties will remain on the spot and will admit to being the author of the accident when the police arrive. This Wednesday, the president will however note that a vehicle had parked behind the C3 in order to prevent Kévin Pallas from fleeing again. “Everyone is filming in this event, he has no possibility of escaping his responsibility, notes for his part master Valentine Poret. He stops at the first parking lot he finds after taking the first exit. »
Kévin Pallas has apologized several times, hoping that the victims will be able to “recover quickly”. He also said he was definitely sickened by the discipline.
A subsequent hearing will take place regarding compensation for the victims.