(Ferme-Neuve) The driver of the watercraft linked to the death of a child under five years old in the Baskatong reservoir was arrested, the Sûreté du Québec said Sunday afternoon.
The 31-year-old man was released on a promise to appear in court.
“He could face charges of impaired capacity causing death,” said Nicolas Scholtus, spokesperson for the SQ.
The child’s body was recovered on Sunday, the day after a nautical tragedy in the reservoir located in the Hautes-Laurentides.
The event, which occurred Saturday evening, around 6:15 p.m., involved a single boat.
“According to initial information, a person suffered serious injuries following the incident and divers from the Sûreté du Québec as well as a nautical patrol went to the scene,” indicated Sergeant Ève Brochu-Joubert, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
“It was last night that the divers recovered the person who was missing. The victim is a child under 5 years old. His death was unfortunately noted on site,” said the SQ spokesperson.
The initial call to emergency services and patrol officers from the MRC of Antoine-Labelle concerned an intervention following “a nautical incident”. The nautical patrol and SQ divers were immediately deployed to find the missing child.
Investigators from the major crimes division of the Sûreté du Québec and reconstructionists were also dispatched to the scene to determine the causes and circumstances leading to the child’s death.
The SQ investigation continues.