Guadeloupe Horror: Driver Rams Crowd at Christmas Event, Injuring 9
Tragedy strikes Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe, as a vehicle plows into a Christmas event, injuring 9. Authorities investigate the cause while the community mourns the shocking holiday horror.
A festive Christmas gathering in the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe turned deadly Friday evening when a vehicle plowed into a crowd of families and locals preparing holiday decorations, injuring at least nine others, authorities confirmed.
Some reports claim that ten people have died as a result of the ramming.
The incident unfolded around 7:30 p.m. local time (AST) at Schoelcher Square, a pedestrian plaza opposite the town hall and church in the coastal town of Sainte-Anne on the island's southern tip. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the car barreled through the area where residents were setting up stalls, stringing lights, and rehearsing for weekend festivities.
Families with children were among those hit, turning what was meant to be a joyful kickoff to the holiday season into one of unimaginable loss.
Local media, including Radio Caraïbes Internationale (RCI) Guadeloupe, reported a total of 19 victims, with three of the injured in serious condition and the rest treated for varying degrees of trauma at nearby hospitals. Emergency responders, including firefighters and paramedics, arrived within minutes, treating the wounded on-site amid overturned decorations and scattered debris. The driver remained at the scene after the crash and was taken into custody for questioning.
Authorities have launched a probe into the cause, with no motive yet determined. Witnesses told RCI they believe the driver may have suffered a sudden medical episode behind the wheel, though this remains unconfirmed by officials.
Some reports, citing local sources, suggest the driver was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time, which could point to impaired driving rather than deliberate malice.
Sainte-Anne Mayor Christian Baptiste arrived shortly after the crash, activating a municipal crisis unit to provide psychological support to victims' families and first responders. "This is a horrific tragedy that has shattered our community just as we were coming together to celebrate," Baptiste said in a statement, vowing full cooperation with investigators from mainland France's gendarmerie.
The event has drawn somber comparisons to the December 2024 car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, where a driver killed two and injured dozens in what was later deemed a deliberate act.
That incident prompted heightened security at holiday events across Europe, including barriers and patrols, but Guadeloupe's smaller-scale preparations lacked such measures.
Guadeloupe, a Caribbean archipelago with a population of about 400,000, has seen rising concerns over road safety amid its tropical tourism-driven economy. This marks one of the deadliest single-vehicle incidents in recent memory for the territory.
As investigations continue into Saturday, local leaders have canceled weekend events in Sainte-Anne, urging residents to unite in mourning.
French President Emmanuel Macron has not yet commented, but officials in Paris are monitoring developments.