Paris 'rodeo' races claim sixth victim

Illegal races between cars on the motorways out of Paris in the early hours have claimed their sixth innocent victim in two and a half years.

Illegal races between cars on the motorways out of Paris in the early hours have claimed their sixth innocent victim in two and a half years.

A middle-aged man was burnt to death when his car was forced off the road during a high-speed duel between two cars on the A13 west of the French capital.

Police believe that his vehicle was struck by one of two Peugeots that were taking part in a "rodeo": a car race at speeds of up to 180mph between young men who gather near motorways at the weekend to show off customised cars.

In July 1998, a mother and three children were burned to death after their car was forced off the A1 motorway.

A few weeks earlier, a man was run over and killed by a "rodeo" car as he walked along the hard shoulder of the A10 motorway.

Since then, there have been several accidents causing injuries, but no deaths.