Another drama hits the world of traffic flagmen as a 39-year-old father lies between life and death after being hit by a speeder who would have crossed a construction site at high speed, Wednesday evening, in Montreal, before fleeing.
• Read also: Hit and run in Montreal: a traffic flagger fights for his life
“I am in shock. He is a friend, a model employee. A member of the family”, dropped, yesterday, Filippo Gattola, co-owner of the company Les Entrepreneurs Bucaro, and employer of the victim.
On Wednesday around 10:20 p.m., a motorist in a white car wanted to cross, in the opposite direction and at full speed, a construction site where asphalting work was being carried out, at the corner of boulevards Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Industriel, in the borough of Pointe-aux-Trembles.
Two workers would then have tried to dissuade him. However, the driver would rather have continued his race and darkened on the two men.
Shocked
One of the workers, who is a traffic control coordinator, lost his hard hat when it hit the ground, causing serious head injuries, endangering his life. He was still in critical condition last night, according to the SPVM. His colleague was injured in the arm and is out of danger.
- Listen to the interview with Éric Laflamme, president of the Association regrouping the installers and flaggers of Quebec, on the Alexandre Dubé show via QUB-radio :
“He is in shock. He hasn’t slept for over 24 hours. They are friends. We are all friends”, however indicated Mr. Gattola.
The investigation by the Montreal Police Service continued yesterday to find the fugitive, who may have been intoxicated.
The president of the Association regrouping the installers and the signalmen of Quebec (ARISQ) did not mince his words a few hours after the tragedy.
“No matter how much we make demands, we always hit the government machine. We are supposedly essential workers. If we’re so essential, why aren’t we more protected? We also want to go home in the evening, ”lamented Eric Laflamme, angry.
Eric Laflamme, President of ARISQ
Photo Martin Chevalier
“Disgusting”
“It doesn’t change. It is sad. As long as there is not a general strike, nothing will be done,” said Pierre-Luc Morin.
“He’s a family man. It’s disgusting. Plus, a hit and run. Let’s see! He is loved by everyone. He knew his job. He’s more of a coordinator, more of a signalman. I don’t understand”, protests the one who is himself the father of three boys.
“This tragic incident is a senseless and totally unspeakable act. To act in this way in defiance of human life is downright reckless, even criminal negligence,” also reacted the president of Bitume Québec, Tytus Zurawski.
The latter pointed out that the number of casualties among flaggers has continued to increase in recent years: 210 were injured in 2022, twice as many as in 2020.