Migrant mob attacks British driver after he kills African in Calais crash
A BRITISH driver who mowed down and killed an Eritrean man in Calais was set upon by a migrant mob after he stopped to try to save the stricken man’s life.
The motorist – who has not been named – is said to have swerved to try to avoid a gang of up to 50 who were trying to stop traffic by hurling objects on to a motorway on Sunday evening.
This is a common tactic used by UKbound migrants who want to get aboard lorries and vans heading for the Channel Tunnel or ferries going to English ports.
The driver hit the Eritrean man and his wife, who are thought to have been standing on the hard shoulder, as he tried to dodge the obstacles in the road.
The man stopped to try to help the couple – but was immediately confronted by the mob of UK-bound migrants, perhaps seeking vengeance or instead attempting to hijack his vehicle.
Pascal Marconville, the prosecutor in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer, said yesterday: ‘He stopped to try to rescue the victim but was violently attacked by several migrants and preferred to leave.’
Mr Marconville said the motorist had voluntarily driven to a police station at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel where he gave a full statement. He tested negative for alcohol and drugs, and his testament suggested the incident was an accident.
The prosecutor added that the driver was not charged, and was free to carry on with his journey yesterday morning.
The couple, who have not been named, were taken to a hospital in Calais where the man later died from his injuries. The woman, in her thirties, was yesterday discharged from hospital and interviewed by police.
The incident unfolded as the driver headed towards Calais from the east of France at junction 47 of the A16, which starts on the Belgian border and heads towards the Paris suburbs.
There are more than 10,000 migrants in the Calais and Dunkirk area who want to get to Britain to claim asylum. Many make their way to the side of the A16, day and night, and try to get on board vehicles.
There has been an increase in attacks in recent weeks, with police and local government officials warning drivers to lock their doors. The migrants, many of whom are from Africa and the Middle East, take huge risks on the motorways.
This is the 14th death of a migrant from the Calais area since the beginning of the year, and many of the fatalities have been related to traffic accidents.
In a statement the local authority Prefecture du Pas-de-
‘The driver was set upon’
Calais said: ‘On October 9 at around 8.30 on the A16 at exit number 47 towards Dunkirk, Boulogne-Sur-Mer a group of some 50 migrants invaded the road as they tried to slow down traffic by throwing items on the road in an attempt to board lorries to Britain.
‘A motorist, who had swerved to avoid them hit two Eritrean migrants. Emergency services including police, the fire brigade and paramedics intervened and rushed the two victims to the Centre Hospitalier in Calais.
‘The male migrant, who was in a critical state when he reached the hospital died at around 11.30pm as a result of his injuries. The other female migrant, in her 30s, was lightly injured and her condition is not life-threatening.
‘The driver of the car, who was set upon by the migrants at the scene carried on his journey and immediately handed himself in to border police at the Channel Tunnel site and an investigation has been opened.’
The incident comes ahead of the imminent demolition of the slum known as the Jungle camp. French president Francois Hollande has said it will close before winter, with its 9,000 inhabitants dispersed around the country.