Quebec’s construction holiday turns tragic with 38 deaths in 30 crashes — the highest in a decade. Police urge motorists to drive safely.
Quebec Holiday Turns Deadly with 38 Fatalities
Quebec’s annual construction holiday has ended in tragedy with 38 people killed in 30 collisions, marking the deadliest two-week period in the last decade, according to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
Province-Wide Collisions Raise Alarm
The deadly crashes occurred across Quebec during the mandated summer break, when most construction sites shut down. The SQ confirmed 31 road deaths and 7 off-road fatalities, including recreational vehicle incidents. This is a sharp rise from the 17 deaths recorded during the 2024 holiday.
Increase in Local Travel May Be a Factor
According to CAA-Québec spokesperson André Durocher, the rise in fatalities may be linked to a shift in vacation trends. “More people chose to stay and travel within Quebec this year,” he said, potentially increasing road traffic and accident risks across the province.
Tragic Incidents Across the Province
One of the worst crashes occurred in Saint-Luc-de-Bellechasse, where a 29-year-old driver and three children under 10 died after the vehicle veered off-road and hit a tree. Other fatalities included three motorcyclists—in Gatineau, Sainte-Flavie, and Notre-Dame-de-Montauban—and deaths in Cowansville and Saint-Moïse involving multi-vehicle and heavy truck accidents.
Human Behaviour Blamed for Most Collisions
Authorities are attributing the majority of these incidents to preventable human error. “We’re talking about speeding, distractions, impaired driving, and fatigue,” said Gino Desrosiers, spokesperson for the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). The SQ also emphasized that more than half of the collisions involved only one vehicle.
Police Urge Caution Amid Rising Road Deaths
Lt. Joyce Campbell, responsible for road safety at the SQ, urged the public to remain vigilant: “When there’s a human factor involved, that means these collisions can be avoided.” The SQ is calling on all motorists to follow speed limits, avoid phone use, wear safety gear, and never drive impaired.
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