A serious accident occurred today in Ussel, where the ninth stage of the Tour de France concluded: a press vehicle crashed into barriers, injuring eight spectators, one of whom is in critical condition, according to reports from the prefecture to the AFP news agency.

Before the arrival of the cyclists, around 5 p.m., the driver of a car belonging to the newspaper L'Équipe suffered a medical emergency less than 500 meters from the finish line, lost control of the vehicle which crashed into the barriers delimiting the course, injuring several spectators who were crowded behind them waiting for the riders.

One of the injured is in critical condition, although not in life-threatening danger, while the other seven sustained minor injuries.

The Tulle prosecutor's office has opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident: the motorist was not detained, the prosecutor clarified.