Nine-year-old arrested driving Audi in Marseille; father charged
Nine-year-old found driving Audi Q7 in Marseille; father charged with endangerment.
Event / Security
Marseille Child Driving Arrest
A 53-year-old Romanian man was arrested in Marseille after his 9-year-old son was found driving an Audi Q7 dangerously on Avenue du Prado. The father faced charges for allowing unlicensed vehicle operation and weapons violations after a switchblade was discovered in the car.
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2026-09-17 to 2026-11-05 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 17 Sept, 18:23 UTC
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What happened
9-year-old child found driving Audi Q7 in Marseille
Police motorcycle officers stopped an Audi Q7 SUV that was zigzagging dangerously on Avenue du Prado in the 8th arrondissement of Marseille on September 11 at approximately 5 PM. The vehicle was swerving between parked cars and unable to drive in a straight line. Upon stopping the vehicle, officers discovered a 9-year-old child at the steering wheel without a seatbelt, attempting to reach the pedals. The child's 53-year-old father was in the front passenger seat with another child on his knees.
Father charged with allowing child to operate vehicle without license
A 53-year-old Romanian national was charged with allowing his 9-year-old son to operate the vehicle. The father faces charges including driving a vehicle without a license, complicity in facilitating the infraction, and weapons law violations. He was initially released from the police station but was recalled and placed in custody on September 18. He is scheduled for a guilty plea hearing (CRPC) in January 2027.
Concealed knife discovered in vehicle during stop
A switchblade knife was found hidden in the door storage pocket of the vehicle's front passenger side door during the police stop.
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