The relatives of an 18-year-old who had just moved to Montreal for studies have difficulty explaining how he could have been fatally struck by an STM bus while crossing the street safely and especially hope that he does not fall not into oblivion.
“He’s going to leave a hole in my heart for the rest of my life. It shouldn’t have happened,” says Jean-François Landry, with his voice broken by emotions.
His son Zachary Laferté-Landry was the pedestrian who was fatally struck on Tuesday. At the end of the afternoon, he was walking towards the Sherbrooke metro after his cinema history course at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal when he was violently hit by a Société de transport de Montréal bus.
Investigators from the City of Montreal Police Department went to the scene of the collision on Tuesday, at the corner of Saint-Denis and Rigaud streets, to determine the causes.
I’m going
However, he looked straight ahead and crossed the street while the pedestrian light was on, but the driver who was making a turn would not have seen him. The impact would have taken place at the level of the driver’s side mirror, according to our information.
A great enthusiast
The family now hopes that their story does not remain anonymous, that Zachary is not just a statistic.
Born in Montreal, the 18-year-old grew up in the Îles-de-la-Madelaine. He had just moved to the metropolis for his studies. He was just beginning to find his bearings in the big city.
Zachary dreamed of becoming a police officer or sports journalist. “He was an introverted and discreet young man. But inside him, he had great empathy. He was really interested in the other and I was very proud of that side of him,” says Mr. Landry with a sad smile.
The Journal met the father in Montreal at his family’s home with Zachary’s three sisters, who are still struggling to cope with the shock. Those close to him describe him as a great enthusiast with a phenomenal memory. He was as interested in politics, current affairs as he was in cinema.
“At supper, it was running gag when he asked: ‘What’s your news today?’” his father recalls.
The young man was especially a big fan of hockey, a sport he played for a long time. He even bought tickets for a Canadian game next week with his money.
“He was just beginning to discover his life,” saddens Jean-François Landry.
Hard to understand
Those close to him now want to understand the circumstances of the collision, to prevent other tragedies of this kind from occurring. The police investigation is still ongoing.
But one thing is certain for them: “it is not normal for young people to be hit in broad daylight by buses near a metro.”
“There is no condition that explains the accident; no snowstorm, it wasn’t dark. He crossed safely,” insists his father.
“He didn’t deserve this. If it was a simple careless mistake, it cost my brother’s life. It destroyed our family,” adds his sister, Stéphanie Laferté.
The tragedy caused a real shock within the student community of his CEGEP, which put in place support measures and help resources.
Zachary is the 12the pedestrian to lose his life in a collision since the start of the year in Montreal alone.
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