FRANCE-ROAD-ACCIDENT-TRAFFIC-WEATHER

People gathered at the site of a massive car crash 23 December 2006 on the Bordeaux-Bayonne highway near Barp. A pair of massive accidents snarled traffic in southwestern France 23 December, after eight people were killed in collisions around Paris in a bitter start to holiday vacations. Accidents involving between 200-300 cars choked the highway between the southwestern cities of Bordeaux and Bayonne Saturday, forcing authorities to close the artery on a peak travel day as they tried to rescue chilled drivers. At least two people were seriously wounded and 15 others less so, according to provisional estimates. AFP PHOTO