A cyclist from Saint-Jean-de-Matha, in Lanaudière, lost his life Tuesday morning after being hit by a school bus carrying 18 children.
The collision happened shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday. The school bus allegedly let a child get on before continuing on rue Sainte-Louise (route 337) eastbound, then making a turn on rue Principale southbound. It was at this time that the 51-year-old cyclist found himself under the bus, reports the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
“According to witnesses, the cyclist would not have succeeded in adjusting his movement according to the maneuver of the vehicle,” said SQ spokesperson Éloïse Cossette by email.
The man suffered serious injuries and was in critical condition when he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
One of the 18 primary school students on the bus suffered nervous shock and was reportedly treated at the scene. The others were taken care of by their school, and the parents were notified of the event, the SQ said.
Vehicles do not have to stop in the direction the bus turned, as there are no stop signs.
The two streets, which are in the heart of Saint-Jean-de-Matha, are extremely narrow and offer no facilities for cyclists. Only a small sidewalk is provided on one side.
A collision scene investigator went to the scene, and the coroner’s office was notified, the SQ said.