Deadly weekend on Quebec roads takes lives of 5 drivers, pedestrians

It was a deadly weekend in the province on Quebec roads as collisions and accidents took the lives of five people and left several injured.

Friday: Biker in Eastern Townships, pedestrian in Gatineau killed

A motorcyclist in her 20s died Friday afternoon after losing control of her vehicle while attempting to pass another vehicle in Saint-François-Xavier-de-Brompton, in the Eastern Townships region.

The accident reportedly occurred just after 4 p.m. on Highway 55 at kilometre 68 in the northbound direction. According to Sûreté du Québec (SQ) spokesperson Béatrice Dorsainville, the motorcyclist was seriously injured and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.

No other vehicles were involved in the collision. A police officer specializing in traffic accidents was dispatched to the scene to investigate, requiring the closure of Highway 55. The lanes were subsequently reopened around 8:30 p.m.

A few hours later, in Gatineau, a woman was fatally struck while crossing at a location not designated for pedestrians on Fournier Boulevard, near Bériault Street.

Saturday: 2 deaths in Laurentians and Bécancour

A head-on collision between a car and a pickup truck claimed the lives of a 43-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman in Mirabel, in the Laurentians. The car reportedly struck the oncoming van head-on after veering out of its lane while traveling on Rang Saint-Dominique, near Highway 15.

Sunday: 1 driver fatally burned in Bécancour

In another incident, A young driver suffered fatal burns after veering off the road in Bécancour, in the Centre-du-Québec region, overnight from Saturday to Sunday. The accident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. on Bécancour Boulevard, a section of Route 132.

“After swerving off the road, the vehicle crashed into a tree and burst into flames. The fire spread to a nearby building. No one was inside, as it is an unoccupied building,” said Sgt. Louis-Philippe Ruel, SQ spokesperson.

Firefighters confirmed the driver’s death inside the vehicle after bringing the fire under control. “At this time, I do not have a formal identification, but it appears to be a young man from the area,” said Ruel, adding that there was no one else in the vehicle.

Injuries

Biker injured in Laurentians

A motorcyclist was seriously injured Saturday after veering off the road in Saint-Hippolyte, in the Laurentians.

Officers from the SQ station in the La Rivière-du-Nord MRC were called to Chemin des Hauteurs around 3 p.m. regarding the incident. “According to initial reports, for an unknown reason, the rider lost control of his motorcycle and struck the guardrail before ending up in the ditch,” explained Stéphane Tremblay, an SQ spokesperson.

The rider was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, where he is reportedly in stable condition. An investigation is underway to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident.

Teen injured in car surfing

An incident of “car surfing” took a dramatic turn when a 15-year-old fell from a moving vehicle on Saturday evening in Saint-Michel, in the Les Jardins-de-Napierville RCM, in Montérégie.

Emergency services were called to the scene around 9:30 p.m. on a farm road off Principale Street.

“At that location, a 15-year-old boy fell from a moving vehicle that he had been clinging to before falling,” SQ spokesperson Ruel said. “The teenager was taken to a hospital. He was in critical condition, and initially, there were fears for his life. Fortunately, his condition stabilized afterward.”

Police interviewed the driver of the vehicle, who now faces potential charges of dangerous driving.

He clarified that there was no gathering of people during this car-surfing incident that went wrong.

“We’re talking about a single vehicle involved and two teenagers,” said Ruel, noting that investigators plan to interview the teenager who was hospitalized once his condition allows.

The SQ’s investigation is ongoing.