Celebrations Turn to Tragedy in Grenoble: Car Plows Into Crowd After PSG Victory

On Saturday night, May 31, celebrations in Grenoble following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final win took a dramatic and tragic turn. Around 11:40 p.m., on Cours Jean-Jaurès in the city center, a speeding car lost control and struck four members of the same family who had gathered to join the festivities.

The victims — two 17-year-old men and two women aged 23 and 46 — were quickly attended to by emergency services and transported to Grenoble University Hospital. Two of them sustained serious injuries, though their lives are not currently reported to be in danger, according to the local prefecture.

Driver Surrenders to Police

Eyewitnesses say the driver appeared to attempt a drift maneuver before losing control and hitting the crowd. Initial investigations suggest there was no intent to harm. The driver fled the scene but later turned himself in at a local police station. He has since been taken into custody.

Rescue efforts were complicated by the large crowd and the presence of fireworks being set off during the celebrations. In total, 27 police officers and 40 firefighters were deployed to secure the area and treat the wounded.

High Tensions Nationwide Amid Celebrations

The Grenoble incident comes amid a tense atmosphere nationwide. In Paris, where PSG supporters gathered en masse, authorities deployed 5,400 police officers over the weekend to manage potential unrest. Despite this, more than 290 arrests were made in the capital, particularly near the Champs-Élysées and the Parc des Princes, where violent clashes and property damage occurred.

Authorities continue to investigate the Grenoble case to clarify the circumstances. While all possibilities remain open, the working theory for now is that of an accidental loss of control.