Three teenagers have died after a car crashed into a private swimming pool in southern France, with authorities suspecting the driver was under the influence of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
The incident occurred in the town of Alès early on Tuesday morning when a Peugeot 207 veered off the road, smashed through a wall, and landed in a pool only slightly larger than the vehicle. The victims, aged 14, 15, and 19, were unable to open the doors due to the confined space and drowned inside the car.
Nitrous oxide canisters, some full and some empty, were found in the vehicle, along with cannabis, alcohol, and a small amount of cash. Alès public prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini confirmed that an investigation has been launched, and a full medical examination will determine whether the driver had consumed nitrous oxide.
The 19-year-old victim was the registered owner of the car, but it remains unclear who was driving at the time of the crash. Grini noted an increase in arrests related to nitrous oxide use while driving. The mayor of Alès, Christophe Rivenq, expressed condolences to the families, stating that the road, with a 30 km/h speed limit, was not dangerous unless speeding occurred.
The three teenagers were known to authorities for drug dealing, with the 15-year-old having been in police custody the previous weekend for drug trafficking. Nitrous oxide, a Class C drug in the UK since 2023, has been linked to several road accidents and overdoses.
