French film producer Nicolas Altmayer and Dior public relations executive Mathilde Favier have died in a car accident in western France, local authorities confirmed. The crash has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the French film and fashion industries, reflecting Altmayer's standing as one of the country's most prolific independent producers and Favier's senior role at the luxury fashion house.

The couple were killed at around 4pm on Monday when their car collided head-on with a heavy goods vehicle while overtaking another vehicle on a road in the Deux-Sèvres department. Favier, 57, was Dior's public relations director, while Altmayer, 61, ran the production company Mandarin & Compagnie with his brother Éric, with credits including François Ozon's Young & Beautiful and Michel Hazanavicius's OSS 117 films. Local authorities have opened an investigation into involuntary manslaughter by a driver. Director François Ozon and Dior chief executive Delphine Arnault both paid tribute, with Arnault praising Favier's "infectious joy, talent and loyalty".