Fatal accident in Vallée-Jonction: family wants answers

“There are no words for someone who loses a child”, the emotion is palpable in Nathalie Poulin. She is preparing to spend a first Christmas without her only daughter Alexandra, who died under the impact of a heavy goods vehicle last Wednesday in Vallée-Jonction, a tragedy which leaves many questions and the family wants answers.

We can't call it an accident, it's a total injusticeunderlines Nathalie Poulin. This shouldn't have happened. We don't understand.

Nathalie Poulin believes that the signage warning truckers upstream of the steep slope and the maximum tolerated weight of 15 tonnes was clearly visible. There is also a brake check area at the top of the hill and a stop bed at the bottom.

For her, the coast must be closed to trucks. Tomorrow morning, anyone with a truck passing the same hill can do exactly the same thing.she says.

This hill is dangerous, there should be no more trucks passing there.

The location is well known in the region since other incidents have occurred there. In January 1990, a truck loaded with wood hit two cars and two trucks — one of which was filled with propane — before hitting a snack bar.

Offenses and breaches

Nathalie Poulin wants to know more about the safety rating conditionalwhich was granted by the Commission des transports du Québec to the company that owns the truck.

The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) had noted several infractions and mechanical defects in addition to noting deficiencies in loads transported by certain vehicles.

The people responsible for this need to give us answers.

What was the condition of the truck? Why was he in the way? What are the [détails] reports from the CTQ?she asks herself, ensuring that she will not let go until she has answers to all her questions.

The Ministry of Transport (MTQ) and the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) are conducting an investigation. The driver of the truck was questioned by investigators from the SQbut he is not facing any charges at this time.

The no fault

For the family's lawyer, Marc Bellemare, the family should be able to take those responsible to court. The best way to obtain complete answers to the questions we ask in cases of death like this is a civil action before a civil court for damages against the author of the damage..

The right to prosecute is the right to know […] It is a means of investigation, of investigation of which the victims are deprived.

But this procedure is impossible, recalls the lawyer, who cites the no fault, one of the foundations of Quebec's automobile insurance system.

According to him, a coroner's report or government investigations do not have the same impact.

It is often largely confidential and very incomplete and it creates a lot of frustration and the family has a lot of difficulty grieving.he explains, adding that Alexandra's mother is not entitled to any compensation for the death of her daughter.

It's completely ridiculous, these laws are outdated, inappropriate and unjust.

A resolution and a rally

The mayor of Vallée-Jonction, Patricia Drouin, intends to propose a resolution to the next municipal council to ask the MTQ to carry out a new study of the sector.

It still regularly happens that heavy trucks use this road illegallyaffirms the latter.

The mayor also wants the government to intervene quickly to better supervise and govern the transportation industry.

A wish also expressed by Nathalie Poulin, who counts on the support of several members of the trucking industry in Quebec in her quest for answers and changes.

At the request of the family, a gathering in memory of Alexandra will take place in Vallée-Jonction on December 28.

This coast needs to be closed [aux camions]the laws need to change and if we are all alone doing this, it will never happen.

Coming to pay her respects at the scene of the tragedy, Nathalie Poulin takes a look at the flowers, the stuffed animals and the words left by citizens. We feel a little less alone.