Quebec: Suspect charged in Amqui crash

Two counts of dangerous driving causing death have been charged against the alleged driver who, on Monday, crashed a pick-up truck into pedestrians in the small Quebec town of Amqui, killing two people and injuring nine others.

Tuesday afternoon, Steeve Gagnon, 38, appeared in court to formally face the charges in pertinence to the crash, which police claim was an intentional act.

He entered the courthouse escorted by police wearing a t-shirt and glasses as bystanders yelled at him, regarding him as “rotten” in French, according to media outlets.

The accused will be charged with further charges, the Crown announced on Tuesday afternoon.

“The police investigation is not complete at this time. There are a lot of witnesses that still need to be interviewed, so there is more information that needs to be gathered,” prosecutor Simon Blanchette stated about the proceedings in court.

Jean Lafreniere, 73, and Gerald Charest, 65, were found dead as they were out for a stroll by the side of the road when the incident happened, according to Sgt. Claude Doiron of the Sûreté du Québec. A child aged three and a nine-month-old in a stroller were among the nine others injured people who were taken to the hospital.

The children’s injuries were serious but not life-threatening, according to the police.
According to Sgt. Doiron, the alleged driver surrendered himself at a local police station on Monday.

The incident is believed to be an isolated one and not an act of terrorism, according to the Quebec Police.