Fatal Scooter Accident in Paris Sparks Safety Debate, Mayor Responds

Nabil’s death will certainly reignite the controversy over the danger of scooters. According to Le Parisien, which mentions some 20,000 scooters in the French capital, the socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo "is already trying to tackle this very recent and somewhat uncontrolled issue".

On Tuesday morning, the owner of the Doudeauville restaurant, known for its couscous in the neighborhood, gave a poignant testimony: "I heard a loud noise. I went out. And I saw the young man on the ground. There were a lot of people around, the firefighters..." he recalls.

The tragic accident of Nabil, which brings to two the number of deaths by scooter in Paris, has plunged the Goutte d’Or neighborhood into sadness, with the atmosphere, according to the French daily, becoming heavy.

Despite his negative breathalyzer test, the van driver had his vehicle seized by the police and towed to Clichy. He himself was taken into custody at the Judicial Accident Processing Service, the same source specifies. The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for "involuntary homicide", the initial elements having revealed that Nabil, who was launching himself on his scooter, would not have respected the right-of-way for this van.

Meanwhile, the family of the young man, who was struck less than 100 meters from his home, has already expressed the wish to repatriate the body.