A man who was awaiting trial for impaired driving allegedly reoffended Friday evening, causing the death of a father while driving his car near his home in Montreal.
“I think it’s a bit of an unfair death. Alcohol [ou la drogue] driving, it’s something that everyone knows you shouldn’t do!”, breathes Julie Martel, 18, in tears.
His father, Sylvain Martel, 55, was killed in a violent collision Friday evening around 7:30 p.m. in the Verdun district.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
Kyle Joshua Monast, 30, was charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death.
The accused, whose residence address is in Pointe-Claire, appeared with facial injuries on Saturday during his appearance by videoconference.
“It hit really hard”
Sylvain Martel was driving on Richard Street when his vehicle was hit head-on at the intersection by the Dodge Dakota model van which was arriving at high speed after having burned several stops on Bannantyne Avenue, according to our information.
A police officer searches the suspect’s vehicle at the scene of the accident on Friday.
Pascal Girard/AGENCE QMI
The suspect then tried to flee the scene on foot before being overpowered, according to what the SPVM indicated.
The victim’s death was noted on site, while his vehicle and that of the suspect ended up against each other on a residents’ lot on Bannantyne Avenue.
“I heard a loud boom and the sound of a horn being pushed. It hit really, really hard. He [le suspect] was coming quite quickly,” says Nicolas Bélec, one of these residents.
The fence which demarcated his land was completely twisted and in several pieces the following day.
PHOTO OLIVIER FAUCHER / LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL
Another trial planned
Kyle Joshua Monast was also awaiting trial for impaired driving related to another offense which allegedly occurred on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24, 2023, and for which he was charged in October following.
The accused then pleaded not guilty to two counts of drunk driving. He was present in court on November 15 in connection with this case and must return there on March 5, 2025 for the continuation of the legal proceedings.
Met briefly by The Journal in front of her father’s residence located near the scene of the accident, Julie Martel was dismayed that an alleged repeat offense by the accused had cost her dad’s life.
“I know my father is a good driver and I didn’t understand how the accident happened. We remain strong people despite all this,” she confided.