Over the first weekend of Quebec’s construction holiday, a tragic toll has been taken on the province’s roads, with a total of eight lives lost in various accidents. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) had issued warnings to drivers ahead of the holiday, emphasizing the importance of caution due to the expected increase in travel activity. Despite increased patrolling efforts on highways, this year’s holiday began with five reported deaths within the initial 24 hours.
One devastating incident occurred in the Laurentians, where a seven-year-old boy and his parents lost their lives in a head-on collision on Route 329. The collision occurred as a driver attempted to overtake a turning vehicle, resulting in the tragic loss of Marc Deslauriers, Sandra Simard, and their son. Deslauriers’ mother shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, emphasizing the proximity of the accident to their family home.
In another tragic event, a four-vehicle collision in Sacré-Coeur claimed the lives of two men in their 20s and left seven others injured. The collision on Route 138 occurred when a driver veered off his lane and collided with oncoming vehicles.
The holiday weekend also saw a motorcyclist in Quebec City losing his life after veering off the road while changing lanes. Meanwhile, a pedestrian in eastern Montreal was fatally struck by a vehicle while crossing the street, and a 68-year-old man in Sherbrooke died after losing control of his vehicle and landing in a ditch.
These incidents serve as stark reminders of the importance of road safety and vigilance, particularly during times of increased travel activity like the construction holiday.
