A succession of tragedies on the roads of Quebec since Christmas Eve have claimed the lives of five people in addition to injuring several others, a sign that we must still be wary of alcohol and fatigue while driving. , warns an expert.
“If you have not slept in the last 24 or 36 hours, everything suggests that your abilities will be weakened,” summarizes André Durocher, director of community relations and road safety at CAA-Quebec, in an interview.
“The fatigue and stress aspect is undeniably part of the blind spot,” he emphasizes.
According to a review carried out by The newspaperfive people have died and around ten others have been injured in major accidents since December 24.
Read or reread about the events that happened
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Moreover, that morning, around 5:45 a.m., a swerve seriously injured a toddler in a vehicle on Highway 15, near Sainte-Adèle.
The 29-year-old man who was behind the wheel, Alexandre Miron, is currently facing criminal charges for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
In a few minutes
A similar scenario would have occurred on December 29 around 6:30 p.m.
The skid of a van killed a 32-year-old woman and injured three other people who were on board, on Route 113, between Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Chibougamau, in Nord-du-Québec.
The driver had blood drawn and was arrested for impaired driving causing death.
A few minutes earlier, near Lanaudière, Brigitte Dion, 51, a niece of the famous singer Céline Dion, lost her life in a collision after a vehicle found itself in the opposite direction.
Too young
One of the youngest victims to have lost their life in the last week is Kelly Garceau, 17 years old.
Tributes and photos paying tribute to him continue to rain in on social networks.
Kelly Garceau, 17, died on Friday, December 29 after losing control of her vehicle in Saint-Zénon, in Lanaudière.
Taken from Kelly Garceau’s Facebook account
Around 3 p.m. Friday, the driver deviated from her lane on Chemin Brassard (route 131), near the Sept-Chutes regional park, causing violent contact with another vehicle coming in the opposite direction.
“Far too young to leave us… I am blessed to have had the time to know you and to spend time with you,” writes Kelly-Ann Généreux.
It is not ruled out, according to the Sûreté du Québec, that the weather is to blame.
This reminds us that conditions can change from one region to another and must be monitored, argues André Durocher of CAA-Quebec.
“Sometimes, 1 degree will make a difference, and black ice is unforgiving,” he insists.