60 Injured Amid Celebration

An apparently drunk driver plowed into a group of fans celebrating France’s World Cup victory early Monday, injuring about 60 people, some seriously, rescue officials said.

The accident happened as the city erupted in joy after France’s 3-0 victory over Brazil in Sunday’s championship game. At least a million people streamed to the Champs-Elysees to celebrate, lining the streets so tightly it was difficult to move in places.

The car was zigzagging down the avenue from the Arc de Triomphe and plowed into the partying fans, injuring about 60--seven seriously, officials said. None were critically injured.

At least a dozen ambulances rushed to the scene to treat the injured, about a dozen of whom were treated on the ground. Rescue officials said it appeared the driver panicked when revelers tried to block her car.

“Apparently it was a crazy car, which drove for several dozen meters [yards], knocking over people on its way,” said Cmdr. Philippe Lavoil, a rescue official.

The driver was attacked by the crowd before police intervened.

Witnesses said the woman cut down revelers over a 50-yard swath, and then dragged some them for several yards.

“A car was coming down the Champs-Elysees in the wrong direction,” said witness Stephan Gueroui. “It hit a group who was crossing.”

Gueroui’s face was swollen and bleeding, after he got caught in a brawl.

A few hours earlier, French fans screeching for joy poured out of the stadium at Saint-Denis, leaping past stunned, dejected Brazilians.

“Amazing! World champions for the first time!” shouted Christian Junker, 19, carrying one end of a giant French flag. He and two friends--all with faces painted red, white and blue--had traveled from the Lorraine region and slept the previous night on the grass, near the Eiffel Tower.

But were they tired? “NO!” they screeched. “We’re going to the Champs-Elysees!”

“This victory brings everyone together,” said Cedric Trunzler, 21. “There are many races and religions here. But we are all French. We all won.”

Shouts of “We are the champions” echoed from crowds moving toward the avenue from Paris’ Left Bank.

The sidewalks around the Louvre museum and the Tuileries gardens were filled with thousands, some carrying flags, some dancing or jumping on cars.

“We have shown the world we’re the best at football. Now we’ll show them we’re the best at partying,” said Simone Perchais, who feted the win in the Latin Quarter.

But actually, the partying began hours before the match.

Beginning Sunday morning, Parisians sang the Marseillaise on the subway, and perfect strangers shouted joyful cheers and chants to each other across crowded streets.

Thousands of fans packed the square in front of Paris’ ornate City Hall, some perched on lampposts, bus stops, telephone booths and even in trees to watch the game on the big screen there. Crowds had gathered there at least eight hours before the match, just to get a good seat.

The patriotic spirit was infectious. “If you are proud to be French, clap your hands!” yelled the youths. Vincent Aigret, 20, a student from Orleans, obliged. “All of us together, all of us together!” he yelled back.

Even the Foreign Legion was in a party mood, with one Legionnaire dancing the samba on the sidewalk.

A sizable but discreet security operation was in place Sunday night to police the huge crowds, with riot troops camped at strategic points across Paris.

They didn’t need to worry about the Brazilians--most were too depressed to stay outside.

“I’m going back to my hotel,” said Jose Luiz Pascoal, 38, who came from Rio de Janeiro to support the Brazilian team. At a hotel bar on the Left Bank, 10 Brazilian fans drank champagne and reflected on the loss. “Brazil was comatose,” said Cesar Lapaglia, 27. “We just didn’t play. And France deserved everything they got.”