Police Chase Leads to Collision Involving Regional Official in Marseille
Romain Simmarano, Chief of Staff to President Renaud Muselier, escapes injury after violent crash with suspected fleeing motorists.
Romain Simmarano, the chief of staff for Renaud Muselier, the President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, was involved in a traffic incident on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at approximately 7:00 AM. The incident took place in the Saint-Joseph neighborhood of Marseille, where Simmarano's Peugeot 308 was struck by a vehicle whose occupants were reportedly fleeing from police.
According to Simmarano's account, he had just exited his residence when he observed the oncoming vehicle.
He described the impact as 'very, very violent,' but noted that the airbags in his car had deployed effectively, which likely contributed to his lack of injuries.
He was transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure but later confirmed that he did not sustain any serious harm.
Eyewitness reports indicated that the two individuals in the fleeing vehicle abandoned their car following the crash and fled the scene.
Simmarano attributed their reckless driving and excessive speed to their flight from law enforcement.
Simmarano plays a significant role in the political landscape of Marseille, often associated with Muselier's strategies against the Socialist mayor, Benoît Payan.
He expressed gratitude for having escaped injury in what he referred to as 'a true miracle,' although his vehicle sustained extensive damage and is deemed irreparable.
According to Simmarano's account, he had just exited his residence when he observed the oncoming vehicle.
He described the impact as 'very, very violent,' but noted that the airbags in his car had deployed effectively, which likely contributed to his lack of injuries.
He was transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure but later confirmed that he did not sustain any serious harm.
Eyewitness reports indicated that the two individuals in the fleeing vehicle abandoned their car following the crash and fled the scene.
Simmarano attributed their reckless driving and excessive speed to their flight from law enforcement.
Simmarano plays a significant role in the political landscape of Marseille, often associated with Muselier's strategies against the Socialist mayor, Benoît Payan.
He expressed gratitude for having escaped injury in what he referred to as 'a true miracle,' although his vehicle sustained extensive damage and is deemed irreparable.
