A Belgian driver, Paolo Falzone, has been sentenced to 27 years after being found guilty of causing a crash that killed seven people and injured about 40 during a carnival parade in La Louviere in March 2022. Prosecutors say he was driving at roughly 170 km/h in a 50 km/h zone and was filming a social media post when the collision occurred. Falzone was convicted on seven counts of murder and 79 counts of attempted murder; the case was tried before a jury amid public outrage.
Belgian Driver Jailed 27 Years After Deadly Carnival Crash While Filming Himself
Investigators determined that the driver was filming a social media post road at the time of the fatal crash (Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD)(Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/AFP)
A Belgian driver was on Wednesday sentenced to 27 years in prison after a court found he killed seven people when he drove his car into a carnival procession while filming himself at the wheel.
Prosecutors say 38-year-old Paolo Falzone was driving a BMW at about 170 kilometres per hour (105 mph) in a 50 km/h zone on the outskirts of La Louviere in March 2022. The collision occurred before dawn as Falzone was returning from a nightclub; investigators concluded he was recording a social media post and was not watching the road.
Casualties and Injuries
Six people died at the scene and emergency services treated around 40 wounded scattered across several hundred metres. A seventh victim later died, bringing the confirmed death toll to seven. Dozens more were left with injuries and the wider community was deeply affected by the tragedy.
Trial and Verdict
Because of public outrage, the case was tried before a jury. Last week the jury found Falzone guilty on seven counts of murder and 79 counts of attempted murder. Falzone has a record of prior speeding and drink-driving offences, which prosecutors cited during the trial.
"The sentence reflects the seriousness of the facts, even if it will never bring back those who died,"
said David Gelay, a lawyer representing the children of a man killed in the crash.
At his trial Falzone expressed regret and said he had no intention of causing harm. His defence lawyer, Frank Discepoli, asked jurors not to impose more than 25 years but acknowledged his client deserved "a significant sentence" for his conduct.
The 27-year prison term is intended to reflect the scale of harm and the circumstances of the offence — high speed, distraction while filming, and previous driving offences — though officials and victims' families noted that no sentence can restore lives lost.
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