Man Loses Foot after 60-year-old Learner Driver Crashes Lorry into Wall

A 63-year-old man has undergone an emergency leg amputation after a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), driven by a man holding only a provisional licence, careened off the road and smashed into a residential wall.

The victim, identified as Pierre E. from Balisson, Rose-Belle, was trapped in the wreckage of the white Mitsubishi lorry for some time following the collision on the Royal Road in New Grove.

Emergency services, including the Rose-Belle fire brigade and SAMU paramedics, worked to extract him from the severely damaged cabin.

Life-Changing Injuries

Following his rescue, the victim was rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital where he was taken immediately into surgery.

Due to the severity of the trauma to his left foot, doctors were forced to perform an amputation. His condition remains serious.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:30 am on Wednesday, 11 February, caused significant traffic congestion on the busy thoroughfare as the vehicle struck both a boundary wall and the fencing of a private residence.

Driver Charged Following Hit-and-Run

The driver of the vehicle, a 60-year-old man also from Balisson, initially fled the scene of the crash. He was later apprehended by Rose-Belle police with the support of the Southern DCIU.

During police questioning, the driver claimed he vanished from the site because he feared for his safety, citing a dread of “hostile bystanders.”

However, police checks revealed a significant legal breach: the driver held only a ‘learner’s’ permit for heavy goods vehicles and was operating the lorry without the required supervision of a qualified licence holder.

Legal Proceedings

The driver appeared before the Mahébourg Court on Thursday, 12 February, facing charges of “involuntary wounding” (coups et blessures par imprudence). He was granted bail after providing a surety.

As the investigation continues, the victim remains under medical observation, with his family and local residents expressing deep concern over the tragic outcome of the journey.

Source: Defi Media