(In)Road safety — DOUBLE DRAMA: Rita Seebaruth (54 years old) crushed by her son’s truck

A retiree (65 years old) between life and death after a violent collision in Pont-Praslin

Sunday was marked by two serious accidents in the north of the island, one of which cost the life of a mother in particularly tragic circumstances, while a retiree is currently fighting for his survival after a violent collision between a car and a bus.

The first drama played out shortly after 9 p.m. at Hills View Wedding Hall, in Les Mariannes, where a reception was taking place organized by a family from Montagne-Longue. While the festivities had just ended, Rita Seebaruth (54), cook and owner of a catering service based in Notre-Dame, was still making the final preparations for the dismantling of her equipment.

According to the first elements of the investigation, his son (34 years old) had parked his truck on a slope near an underground building of the reception room. The vehicle was to be used to transport kitchen utensils and equipment before the catering team returned. A few moments later, while he was inside the kitchen, the 30-year-old was alerted by his aunt, who told him that his mother was under the truck. The latter witnessed the scene helplessly. The vehicle, for a reason that remains to be determined, rolled down the slope on its own before crushing Rita Seebaruth.

A race against time then began. Volunteers present on the scene attempted to move the heavy weight in order to free the victim. When the police and SAMU emergency services arrived, several people were already performing the first resuscitation actions on the victim, who was lying unconscious on the ground.

Despite all the efforts made, the SAMU doctor could only note his death. The body was transported to the SSRN hospital morgue.

In the meantime, the truck driver has been detained as part of the investigation. The breathalyzer test to which he was subjected came back negative. However, a blood sample was taken from him. The latter faces a provisional charge of manslaughter. Earlier, in the afternoon, a serious accident occurred on the Route Royale in Pont-Praslin, involving a white car and an individual bus. The car was driven by a retiree (65 years old) living in Triolet. At his side were his wife (55 years old) and his daughter (30 years old). The bus, which had no passengers, was driven by a resident (29 years old) of Brisée-Verdière, assisted by the conductor (23 years old).

The shock was of rare violence. Both vehicles suffered significant damage and all occupants involved were injured. They were urgently transported to the SSRN hospital by SAMU services.

The state of the 65-year-old retiree i