“How many deaths are they expecting?”: the family of a mother who died on the A-50 in a crusade to secure the highway

The relatives of a mother from Lachute who died on Saturday during yet another fatal face-to-face encounter on the A-50 are launching a real cry from the heart to secure the highway by the end of the widening work, in order to to prevent other families from experiencing the same nightmare as them.

“How many deaths are they waiting for before they do something? deplores Martin Chénier, the victim’s brother, stifling a sob. If there had been a median or concrete blocks between the lanes, like a normal highway, this would not have happened.”

Very early Saturday morning, Sophie Chénier was going to work when she was hit head-on by a vehicle which veered from its lane in the opposite direction on the A-50, near Lachute. Good Samaritans tried to help him, according to his brother, but it was too late.

The other driver was arrested for impaired driving. The 35-year-old man from Sainte-Sophie was released on summons. The Sûreté du Québec is continuing its investigation.

“I can’t believe that in 2024 people are still driving impaired. There is awareness, taxis and so many resources that one can have to not drive. He also scrapped his own life,” says Martin Chénier.

No chance

But the father does not get angry, thinking that the configuration of the highway left his sister, a mother of three children and grandmother of a little girl, no chance.

“I am angry at the circumstances. It’s a dirty highway,” he says. Because, in this sector, nothing separates the contraflow lanes apart from rumble strips.

Since December alone, four other people have lost their lives on the same highway. This pushed nine mayors of the Laurentians to join their voices to demand security measures just two weeks ago.

“How many of us are the number one family to experience this? We want to be heard. Let the Ministry of Transport come see us, we will tell them our story,” adds Mélissa Masson, Martin Chénier’s partner.

The victim was going to celebrate her 52^e birthday Wednesday. “We still want to celebrate in the coming days… and a tribute at the same time. She loved life so much,” confides her brother.

After losing her partner a few years ago due to cancer, Sophie Chénier had just found love again.

“She moved in with him this summer and she was so happy,” he says, nervously holding a dog in his hands. Behind him, a pink doll’s house. He explains that the birth of his daughter had brought him closer to his sister in recent years.

“At least we were able to have all these beautiful moments with her,” adds Mélissa Masson.

Even the coroner is discouraged

Coroner Denyse Langelier freely admits to being discouraged by all the fatal collisions in recent months. She explains that she is currently in talks with the MTQ to “see what could be done in the very short term.”

“The widening of the highway [à quatre voies] will create a safe median, but in the meantime concrete barriers or a cable” could be installed, she said.

Especially since she has been trying to sound the alarm for at least ten years (see information box). “There are bereaved families. There are also many accidents with serious injuries. We talk about it less, but it’s just as important for them.”

“This is an important issue, I will leave no stone unturned to try to save lives,” she promises.

The widening and redevelopment work on the A-50, where there are 96km of contiguous lanes, should be completed by 2032, according to the MTQ.

In three years, 14 fatal accidents and 22 serious injuries on the A-50

2020

• Seriously injured: 4
• Deaths: 7

2021

• Seriously injured: 11
• Deaths: 4

2022

• Seriously injured: 7
• Deaths: 3

Source: Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility

Here are some of the recommendations made by coroners to the MTQ

2014 – Coroner: Denyse Langelier

• Between Mirabel airport and Lachute, addition of a cement concrete barrier or a cable barrier to prevent road vehicles from crossing the center line

2014 – Coroner: Paul G. Dionne

• Review the problem of this portion of the highway and make the appropriate modifications

2017 – Coroner: Denyse Langelier

• Continue the installation of a cement concrete guardrail between Lachute and kilometer 278 in Mirabel to prevent vehicles from crossing the center line
• Improve the A-50 so as to have at least two lanes in each direction, separated by a central reservation

2017 – Coroner: Julie Blondin

• Widen Highway 50 so that it has at least two lanes in each direction, separated by a central reservation
• Install restraints in busier areas to allow vehicles to move into the oncoming lane