A car competing in a road race in southern France crashed into a crowd Saturday, killing at least two people and badly injuring about 15, including several children, firefighters said.
The accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. local time when a car competing in the 14th annual Maures regional rally veered off the road at Plan-de-la-Tour in the Var department on the Mediterranean coast.
Among the injured, four people — including two youths ages 12 and 17 — were in critical condition. Another victim was 9 years old.
"The toll could worsen," Stanislas Cazelles, an official from the Draguignan commune, told reporters.
He added that the second day of the rally was canceled, "given the gravity of the situation."
Danielle Drouy-Ayral, the public prosecutor in Draguignan, said an official from her office was overseeing an investigation.
She added that a race marshal also was among the victims.
According to initial reports, it appears the driver, whose identity has not been released, made a mistake at an intersection where he was supposed to turn right, but instead drove straight ahead, crashing into the spectators.
"The priority is to find out the causes of this accident. The vehicle will be examined. The driver of the vehicle, who is in shock, has been hospitalized and placed in custody, and the co-driver will be heard," said Julien Ficara, a prosecutor.
Investigators have begun collecting photos and footage from spectators in order to determine the circumstances of the accident.
Minister for Youth and Sports Valerie Fourneyron said in a statement the accident poses "a serious question of public security during automobile events."
"With the interior minister we want to meet the concerned people as soon as possible, in order to take necessary measures quickly," she said.
