BMW driver flees police pursuit in Deux-Sèvres despite two punctured tires

A driver in a BMW led authorities on a high-speed chase through the Deux-Sèvres region on Sunday, September 27, 2026, after refusing a police checkpoint near Saint-Maixent-l'École.

During the pursuit, gendarmes deployed a new automatic electric spike strip to intercept the vehicle. The device successfully punctured two tires on the right side of the BMW, yet the driver continued the flight toward Niort. The pursuit was monitored by the Gendarmerie's Surveillance and Intervention Peloton (PSIG) over several dozen kilometers.

The vehicle eventually came to a halt near the Décathlon in Niort on Rue Charles-Darwin. The driver fled the scene on foot and remains at large. An investigation has been opened into the incident.