Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for daycare crash deaths

SAINT-JÉRÔME, Que. —A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a city bus was driven into a Montreal-area daycare last year.

Pierre Ny St-Amand was arrested after a transit bus crashed into the front of a daycare in the Ste-Rose neighbourhood of Laval, Que., on Feb. 8, 2023, killing two young children, aged five and four, and injuring six others.

“The judge decided that there was some evidence which meant that the murders were premeditated and planned,” said Quebec crown prosecutor Simon Blais. 

Quebec court Judge François Landry made the ruling after hearing arguments over four days this week during St-Amand’s preliminary hearing.

“Obviously, this is what we asked the judge to do, so we are satisfied,” said Quebec crown prosecutor Simon Blais. 

The 52-year-old former city bus driver faces two counts of first-degree murder as well as seven other charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

“We had a lot of people, families of the victims, relatives, hearing for the first time evidence in the file. So it was a week that was charged with emotions. But it was handled pretty well with the judge, the circumstances,” said Blais.

A publication ban covers the names of the victims and any evidence presented during this week’s hearings.

“Obviously, we would like the trial to proceed as fast as it possibly can,” concluded Blais. “Maybe this fall or next winter, but I don’t have the schedule of the Superior Court. So it’s hard to say at this point.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2024.