Colmar Tourist Train Driver Faces Trial for Drunk Driving Accident Involving Toddler

On August 31, a tragic incident occurred in Colmar, Alsace, when a 44-year-old tourist train driver, under the influence of alcohol, accidentally ran over a 19-month-old child, resulting in a leg injury. The driver’s blood alcohol level was measured at 1.38 grams per liter, significantly above the legal limit. Fortunately, the toddler’s injury was not life-threatening. The child was hospitalized, discharged the next day with a cast, and given a four-week temporary incapacity to work (ITT).

Following the accident, the driver was placed in police custody for two days before being released under judicial control. The prosecution classified the case as a 'road injury' aggravated by drunk driving. As a result, the driver has been banned from working in public transportation and must undergo treatment while awaiting trial, which is set for October 17. The driver had only been employed by the tourist train company for a few months. The company responded by suspending him and initiating disciplinary proceedings aiming at dismissal.

This incident has raised significant concerns about public safety and employee responsibility in the tourist transport sector in Colmar. The legal repercussions emphasize the serious consequences of driving under the influence, particularly when public safety is at stake. The case is now proceeding through the judicial system, where the driver faces charges linked to the accident and his intoxicated state at the time of the incident.