City of Eu. For Thierry Berger, the gendarmerie is responsible for the fatal accident of his son

The truth about the circumstances of her son’s death! And identify those responsible, if there are any! This is what Thierry Berger, a resident of city ​​of Eu (Seine-Maritime).

Her only son, Sébastien, died on August 14, 2019 at the age of 33. It was gendarme of the gendarmerie surveillance and intervention platoon (PSIG) of Compiègne.

This father (twins aged 4 at the time of the tragedy), lost his life in a road accident in Bienville, in the Oise.

He was going to intervene with a colleague (he got out of it), driving a Renault Kangoo. The condition of the vehicle, in fact, is the subject of many questions.

According to our information, he was not assigned to the PSIG of Compiègne. It was a liaison vehicle between the units.

“The car was driving from behind”

The vehicle was apparently no longer suitable for circulation. The mileage would have been high, far too much according to the remarks reported by Sébastien’s colleagues to his relatives.

And that’s not the only reason.

“When we went to the scene of the accident, a gendarme said he knew the vehicle had a problem. He said the car was driving from behind ”.

A recurring problem and known by the hierarchy according to several users of this old Kangoo, which had already been the subject of numerous repairs.

“I think they are hiding the truth from us. The gendarmerie is the big mute ”, assures this former gendarme who worked at Eu, Criel-sur-Mer or even at Tréport.

An estimated speed of 70 km / h

One thing is certain, Sébastien was driving at around 70 km / h when he lost control of the gendarmerie vehicle in a large curve to the left.

“We went there, and we do not understand how the accident could have occurred” continues the Eudois, now a reservist gendarme.

It also ensures that “the vehicle did not leave its path from the outside but from the inside”. Incomprehensible to him!

He shouldn’t have driven this vehicle

And his daddy’s heart was even more outraged when he learned that that day Sébastien had to drive a Ford Focus. “But it didn’t start anymore. It was broken down ”.

“It was the vehicle of the” boss “”

There was also a new vehicle, a Skoda Kodiaq. It was parked in the garage “but it should not be taken because it was the vehicle of the” boss “, and it should not be used. The gendarmerie must explain itself on this point ”.

Not enough gendarmes

Several gray areas surround this tragedy of the road and prevent this father from mourning as he would like: “In the memorial, the bible of the gendarmerie, I noticed that there were several things that did not exist. had not been respected. I learned that Sébastien had his accident at 6:15 a.m. when he should have started his shift at 8 a.m., all because there was not enough staff. I know it is done but legally, they (Editor’s note: his superiors) did not have the right to have him resume earlier ”.

Twenty-eight months after the accident, he displays the same determination that he already displayed a few days after the accident.

Yet months go by and nothing changes: “I’ve never seen an accident investigation dragged out like this. When I was working, the procedure lasted a maximum of six months ”.

And to deplore: “I received no answer”.

“This will not bring my son back”

He is determined to obtain some, in particular on the condition of the vehicle before the accident. “ I at least want the gendarmerie to recognize their faults even if I know that this will not bring my son back ”.

Victoric Bellet, lawyer for the parents of Sébastien Berger, is also annoyed by the slowness of the investigation, “the lack of resources of the police and justice”.

For him, “the reasons for Sébastien’s death are necessarily due to the condition of the vehicle, which was no longer able to ensure the safety of the people who used it”.

An expertise of the vehicle was carried out “but we were excluded from it when we would have liked to ask questions to the expert”, continues the lawyer.

The state of the road also questions. “Several accidents had already taken place in this sector,” assures Thierry Berger.

At least, that’s what the gendarmes, who worked with Sébastien, were able to tell him.

Since then, work has been carried out on this axis.

The causes of death revealed one year later

It was only a year later that Sébastien’s parents were able to find out the causes of their son’s death through the voice of their lawyer.

But deep in them echoes a dull anger. They had to arm themselves with patience to be able to bury him in his uniform.

They were also obliged to beg from his hierarchy to be able to recover his military belongings, “a memory which is of value to me, a former gendarme”. In vain !

A complaint against the Ministry of the Interior

In search of the truth, Thierry Berger lodged a complaint, with the help of his lawyer, against the command of the PSIG where Sébastien Berger worked, based on articles R 434-4 and R 434-6 of the Homeland Security code. .

“In the gendarmerie, hierarchical superiors must ensure the preservation of their subordinates, which was not the case,” said Maître Bellet.

A complaint was also lodged against the Ministry of the Interior for endangerment and breach of a particular obligation of prudence or security according to article 121-3 of the penal code.

The third complaint is directed against the Roads Department of the area where the accident occurred, based on article 131-2 of the Highway Code which stipulates that the expenses relating to the construction, and the maintenance of departmental roads are the responsibility of the Department.

Posthumous distinctions

Promoted posthumously, Sébastien received the gold medal of National Defense, Bronze palm.

A gesture that resonates for Thierry Berger and his wife, Marie-Pierre, as recognition of their son’s unwavering commitment to the service of the gendarmerie.

Thierry Berger, beyond wanting answers, began another fight, demanding more resources for the military, and in particular “correct vehicles to drive”.

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