The driver of a van killed at least two people and injured nine by deliberately ramming pedestrians on Monday afternoon in downtown Amqui in a new murderous madness, a month after that of a daycare center in Laval.
• Read also: Drama in Amqui: “it’s really appalling”, laments Pascal Bérubé
The tragedy occurred a little after 3 p.m., on boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest (route 132), in front of the La Captive microbrewery.
Screenshot, TVA Nouvelles
The La Captive microbrewery in front of which the tragedy began. We notice a boot on the steps but especially a deformed banister of the staircase and the other completely folded down showing how far the mad driver has gone.
“There are seven injured in evaluation and two seriously injured. We confirm the death of two men, a septuagenarian and a man in his sixties, ”said Hélène St-Pierre, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec during her last report Monday evening.
Screenshot, TVA Nouvelles
Two vehicles from the Sûreté du Québec and one from the Ministry of Transport ensuring that no one goes to the scene.
According to witnesses, the van traveled nearly 900 meters, sometimes rolling on the sidewalk or in the street, hitting several pedestrians as it passed before coming to a stop. Many people watched helplessly as the drama unfolded. They immediately provided assistance to the victims who were transported to the local hospital.
Screenshot, TVA Nouvelles
“Staff were called in for reinforcement, doctors, nurses, attendants. All people are taken care of in Amqui, but it is not impossible that there will be transfers to Rimouski, Quebec or Montreal as needed, ”confirms the spokesperson for the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent Gilles Turmel. .
Suspect arrested
Authorities also confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man.
According to our information, it would be Steeve Gagnon of Amqui. This one would have presented signs of great delirium when met by the agents of the SQ.
He reportedly went to the police station himself after the events.
His motives were not known at the time of going to press.
This attack is reminiscent of the tragedy that occurred in Laval on February 8 when a driver deliberately crashed into a daycare center killing two children, 4 and 5 year olds.
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Several reactions
As soon as she heard the news, the mayor of Amqui Sylvie Blanchet went there to see the extent of the drama.
“At the Amqui hospital, everything is triggered to help these people. […] The people of Amqui, the people of Matapédia, I want them to be reassured. We are here to support them. We are wholeheartedly with them, ”she told our colleagues at TVA.
“It happens elsewhere. Things like that never happen to you. […] There are no words to describe what happened,” she added.
“I am troubled by what I am told,” said the PQ MP for Matane-Matapédia, Pascal Bérubé, who took over the management of Amqui. Mr. Bérubé also announced that he had canceled his presence at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
“It’s a whole population that is shaken. […] The telephone company told us earlier that the system had blown up and that they had to add signal,” mentioned Mr. Bérubé to emphasize how tightly knit the community is.
The Bloc member who represents Amqui, Kristina Michaud, also went there.
“It is a terrible tragedy. We never imagine that it will happen to us. There are some 6000 inhabitants. Everyone knows each other here in Amqui. We imagine that the people who are affected today are people we know, ”she confided with emotion to TVA Nouvelles.
“It’s shocking what happened in Amqui. All my thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. Thank you to the first responders present on the ground,” added Prime Minister François Legault.
“My heart goes out to the citizens of Amqui, Quebec. I am thinking of all those affected as we await more information on today’s tragic events. To the first responders: thank you for your speed, your courage and your professionalism,” added Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel, stressed for his part that he is following the situation closely.
– With Félix Séguin, Bureau of Investigation, Laurent Lavoie, Marianne Langlois and Agence QMI