Two pedestrians, who were killed in a hit and run in the eastern Quebec town of Amqui on March 13, have been identified by Quebec police as Jean Lafrenière, 73, and Gérald Charest, 65.
In an email to The Epoch Times, Quebec police spokeswoman Sergeant Hélène St-Pierre said besides the two victims fatally killed, there were additional pedestrians injured, ranging from an infant a few months old to one victim 77 years of age.
The suspect, Steeve Gagnon, 38, appeared in court in Amqui on March 14, on two counts of dangerous driving causing death.
“Other charges could be brought” by police, said St-Pierre. The police have not established any motive for the hit and run and she said the investigation is continuing.
The suspect “surrendered himself immediately after the collision at the local police station where he was then arrested,” she added.
In a March 14 news release, Quebec police (Sûreté du Québec) said that nine people suffered various injuries. Three victims are still suffering life-threatening injuries.
“As the case is now before the courts and out of respect for the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, no additional comments will be issued by the Sûreté du Québec,” stated the news release.
Police earlier said the driver of a pickup truck deliberately and with apparent premeditation allegedly swerved from one side of the road to the other side to randomly mow down pedestrians walking down the street, including a baby and an approximately 3-year-old child.
Six victims, including three children, were airlifted to a Quebec City hospital, and three adults remained in critical condition on March 14. One victim was in hospital in Amqui in stable condition.
The hit and run happened just after 3 p.m. on March 13 along St. Benoit Boulevard in Amqui, a town with about 6,000 residents, roughly 350 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.
Police said investigators and accident reconstruction experts are continuing their investigation.
Provincial police Sgt. Claude Doiron told reporters following the incident that the driver travelled a considerable distance with his vehicle. “We’re talking about pedestrians who were walking all along the [road], on both sides in fact, over a certain distance,” he said.
Doiron said it’s unclear whether the suspect knew any of the victims. It’s not clear what the motive was or the suspect’s state of mind at the time of the crash, Doiron said.
Quebec Premier François Legault posted on Twitter in French following the event, stating, “All my thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. Thank you to the first responders on the ground.”
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
