Several drivers in critical condition and heavy trucks on fire: a major accident that occurred Monday afternoon in Bécancour, in Center-du-Québec, led to the closure of Highway 30 for an indefinite period.
Five different vehicles were involved in this series of collisions that occurred around 2:15 p.m. Monday afternoon, indicates Sûreté du Québec (SQ) spokesperson Éloïse Cossette.
The accident occurred at kilometer 214.5 of Highway 30, between the intersections of Avenue des Jasmins and Rue des Glaïeuls. At this location, there is only one lane in each direction.
Among the vehicles involved, there is a car, a van, two 10-wheel trucks and a 53-foot truck, said Officer Cossette. The heavy trucks affected by the accident caught fire and smoke was still visible at 5 p.m., according to Officer Cossette. These trucks transported rocks and grain. The Ministry of Environment was contacted due to the fuel spill.
Among the five drivers involved in the tragedy, three are in critical condition, underlines Officer Cossette. The other two suffered minor injuries.
An extended accident scene
The accident is said to have occurred in several stages. The different vehicles involved are on a scene more than a hundred meters away, according to Officer Cossette, who was on site at the time of the interview. “There is a first vehicle on the east side which is alone. Then, the trucks are at least 100 meters away, in a cluster. They caught fire. And the van is still a little further away. So we will have to redo the sequence of the event to understand,” she describes.
One thing is certain: a vehicle coming from the east ended up in the oncoming lane. “The roadway was dry, there was no sun which could have caused dazzling,” emphasizes the spokesperson. Is it a mechanical problem? Exceeded ? A dangerous maneuver? These are the hypotheses that will be looked at. »
A reconstructionist specializing in collision investigations went to the scene to analyze the scene. The latter will be necessary to better understand the sequence of impacts that led to this major accident scene. An investigation is therefore underway to determine the causes and circumstances leading to the tragedy.
Towing heavy and burned trucks complicates operations to free the highway, adds Mme Cossette. Highway 30 was closed at this location in both directions for an indefinite period.