By Samuel Akpan
A 17-year-old girl has died after falling off a truck and being run over during street celebrations in Northern France following the national team’s 2-0 World Cup quarter-final victory over Morocco.
Local emergency services, however, confirmed the death on Friday.
The tragedy unfolded in Aulnoye-Aymeries near the northern city of Maubeuge, where the teenager was riding on the vehicle amid the post-match festivities.
She fell off and was struck by the truck, and authorities declared her dead at the scene.
Police have detained the truck driver as part of their investigation, while another teenager who witnessed the incident was taken to hospital suffering from shock.
The death cast a pall over widespread celebrations that erupted across France after the win at the Gillette Stadium.
In Paris and other cities, hundreds of fans danced in the streets, with thousands of police officers deployed on security duties to manage the large crowds.
In London, French supporters’ gatherings descended into violence, prompting police to arrest four people for violent disorder at Edgware Road near Hyde Park.
One officer was injured after some revellers blocked traffic and threw bottles and other objects at police.