Overview
- Two horse-drawn carriages in the Penitents procession in Villefranche-de-Rouergue collided on the Route du Boï, killing a 70-year-old participant.
- Emergency crews said seven others were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and TF1 reported four more were treated for shock.
- One horse died at the scene, and one carriage left the roadway and went down a slope, according to local reports.
- Investigators opened a case to determine the cause, with early accounts pointing to a rear carriage that gained speed on a descent and failed to brake, while a deputy mayor said the horses did not bolt and both drivers were experienced.
- The procession, a spring parade revived in 2024 after a 15-year break, will have its safety procedures reviewed as part of the inquiry.