Farmers' demonstration: one dead and two injured on a blockade in Ariège, the dam voluntarily forced ?

A woman died during an accident during a mobilization of farmers in the village. Pamiers, in Ariège, this Tuesday January 23. Her husband and daughter were seriously injured, all were demonstrating on the blockade alongside the unions.

A farmers' protest has taken a dramatic turn. A fatal accident occurred at an organized blockage point. &agrav; Pamiers, in Ariège, very early this Tuesday, January 23. "Three members" of the FNSEA were é victims of the accident according to the president of the majority agricultural union. "A woman died, her husband and her daughter “are in a complicated state,” said Arnaud Rousseau on BFMTV-RMC.The two injured people are in "extremely serious situations" according to the general prosecutor of the Toulouse Court of Appeal, Franck Rastoul, questioned about by France Bleu Occitanie.

The deliberately forced farmers' blockade ?

The exact circumstances of the accident are not yet clearly established, but the fatal accident occurred after a vehicle forced' oacute; the dam, voluntarily or not. "A car entered the national road & height of Pamiers which was blocked by farmers. She hit &agrav; high speed the straw wall is erected by farmers" specifiedé the floor. A version of the facts also reported by the vice-president of the FDSEA of Ariège, Sébastien Durand, to France 3 Occitanie : "They passed& oacute;s &agrav; at crazy speed, on the shoulders, avoiding the concrete blocks.

The occupants of the vehicle wereé arrested and placed in custody view. The prosecution opened an investigation "on a qualification of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary injuries", explained the prosecutor general of the Toulouse Court of Appeal, specifying that according to the "éelements that will be collected, this qualification will be able to evolve.

A drama that "will strengthen our determination"

The fatal accident in the Ariège is a "drama" that "upset us all" saidé the president of the FNSEA on BFMTV-RMC, this Tuesday morning. Arnaud Rousseau also urged “farmers" &be vigilant about security conditions". "Putting our messages across also means ensuring security& ;eacute; of each […] There is an absolute necessityé &agrav; éavoid this kind of dramatic accident which leaves us all in mourning", he added.

Young farmers like the FDSEA of Ariège have announced the lifting of the blockage proximity of the N20 and the RD119, near Pamiers, a few hours after the accident. The local unions “show their full support to the loved ones and the victims' family. This tragedy shakes up the movement at the national level, but it "will strengthen the determination" of the movement according to the vice-president of the FNSEA, Luc Smessaert,  contacté by BFMTV : "Ça only gives meaning and values ​​&agrav; our fight. If this family was on this roadblock, it is because there is a malaise." And the trade unionist adds and insists: "When we are on these roadblocks, it always has a lot of dignity. These farmers are there well in spite of it them. […] There is a need for change."