A car drove into the terrace of a cafe in the 20th arrondissement in northern Paris on Wednesday evening, leaving one dead and six injured, including three in a critical state, police said.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, and police arrested a passenger, who tested positive for drugs and alcohol, BFMTV reported, citing police sources. The passenger was not among the casualties.
The accident occurred around 7:30 pm near the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th arrondissement. The initial toll was one death and three serious injuries, but paramedics are still at the scene, and the number of casualties may rise.
France is on high security alert ahead of the Paris Olympics that start on July 26.
Police are conducting forensic examinations on the vehicle, with investigations pointing to a “car accident,” the news channel added.
