The head of the board of New Caledonia's SLN nickel company, Pierre Alla, has died in a car accident in France.
Public radio in Noumea says Mr Alla was a passenger in a car driven by his brother-in-law who fell ill and crashed.
Mr Alla's sister also died.
Before joining SLN, Mr Alla was the head of the Goro Nickel company which has since become the multi-billion dollar Vale plant.
