The cross installed in tribute to a young man who perished during a violent face-to-face against his roommate’s car last summer in Montérégie was vandalized and stolen, much to the dismay of his brother who wishes make the wrongdoers aware.
“It doesn’t take much thought to do that. It’s a gratuitous and disrespectful gesture for the people it can affect, ”drops Kevin Perreault.
Almost a year ago, his brother Mikael had a violent face-to-face in Saint-Alexandre.
Photo provided by Kevin Perreault
Mikael Perreault and his brother Kevin during a shared meal in the months preceding his accident.
The man who was the father of a young boy was traveling north on the row of Dussaults, when he returned from work, can we read in the coroner’s report.
Suddenly, the shovel operator’s white Acura began to swerve on the road, encroaching on the opposite lane, at more than 100 km/h. The reason for the loss of control is unknown.
Sad coincidence: his roommate and friend of the past 15 years was then traveling in the opposite direction and crossed his path at the same time.
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The latter tried to avoid Mr. Perreault, without success.
The collision was violent. The Acura was thrown over the edge of a ditch, against a Hydro-Quebec pole.
He perished, but his roommate and his two passengers survived.
Photo archives, QMI Agency (Thierry Laforce)
A police officer from the Sûreté du Québec observes the damage at the scene of the accident where Mikael Perreault lost his life, on July 1, 2022, in Saint-Alexandre, in Montérégie.
Shortly after, an imposing cross was erected on the scene of the tragedy. Dozens of people had come to meditate there and write messages.
Recent disappearance
But on the night of last Tuesday, the cross that his family had planted to commemorate his death was torn down and then stolen, on the side of road 227.
It was friends of the deceased who passed by frequently who noticed him.
“It was really symbolic. Our grandfather, who is now deceased, had written a note on it, says Mr. Perreault. My mother cried when she found out.
It will be a year on the 1er July that the 32-year-old lost his life at this specific location.
“He was a very appreciated person, who had a particular sense of humor. There were 150 people at his funeral. It’s not everyone who has this chance, ”says the brother of the deceased.
Photo provided by Kevin Perreault
Dozens of people had gathered at the place where Mikael Perreault died shortly after his death, on July 1, 2022, in Saint-Alexandre, in Montérégie.
little hope
Now curious to find meaning in the disappearance of the symbolic object, the latter contacted the municipality and Hydro-Québec to find out if they had not removed it.
Photo provided by Kevin Perreault
The bolt that held the cross was severed. Alcoholic drinks had been left on the ground around the cross by friends of Mikael.
“They assured me that was not their way of doing it,” he said. We had done it according to the standards, rules of size and size. We put a stake in the ground. It was well done, so that it never gets out of there.
Same response from the side of the owner of the land, to whom the family of Mikael Perreault had asked permission, before digging a hole to put the crucifix there.
“I know I’ll never get it back, but at least if we can make people aware, he continues, convinced that it was a voluntary gesture. I noticed we weren’t the only ones this had happened to.”