Three French Teenagers Drown After Car Crashes Upside Down Into Private Pool

Three teenagers in southern France died in a tragic accident after their car skidded off a rain soaked road, broke through a garden wall and landed upside down in a private swimming pool. The incident took place in the town of Alès in the early hours of Wednesday and has been described by authorities as a devastating chain of events.

The victims, aged 14, 15 and 19, were trapped inside the vehicle, which was roughly the same size as the pool. Prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini said the teenagers were unable to open the doors once the car was submerged, leaving them stuck in icy water with no chance of escape. Emergency services were not alerted for several hours, and firefighters had to drain the pool before removing the overturned vehicle.

Heavy rain at the time is believed to have contributed to the car losing control, and investigators are examining how the vehicle managed to flip completely after smashing through a low garden wall. Video from the scene showed the collapsed wall beside the water and the mangled car being lifted away by firefighters. Reports also indicate that canisters of nitrous oxide were found in the car, though officials have not confirmed whether they played a role in the crash.

The deaths have shocked the local community, with authorities calling the situation an unbelievable and tragic combination of circumstances. A formal investigation has been opened, and the bodies of the victims have been taken to the forensic institute in Nîmes for post mortem examinations.