Quebec Daycare Crash Leaves Community Mourning, Asking Why

Quebec Premier Francois Legault lays flowers as he visits the site of a daycare centre in Laval, Quebec, Feb. 9, 2023, where a city bus crashed into the building killing two children. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

Parents, neighbours, and others have been visiting the security perimeter around the Quebec daycare where a city bus driver may have deliberately crashed, killing two children and injuring six others. They have laid flowers, cards, and stuffed animals, and tried to make sense of the tragedy.

Quebec Premier François Legault and the province’s three opposition leaders visited the daycare, Garderie Éducative Ste-Rose, on Thursday and met with parents and daycare workers.

“There’s nothing more difficult than losing a child or not knowing—some [parents] waited an hour, not knowing whether their child was affected or not,” he said. With two adult children, he said he could imagine being in the parents’ position.

His wife, Isabelle Brais Legault, said, “I feel the same as every mother in Quebec, as every parent in Quebec—you want to share the pain.”

“It’s important to take care of employees,” Legault said. “Those who saw that will probably see those images for their entire lives.”

‘Motive Remains Incomprehensible’

Public Security Minister François Bonnardel told reporters in Quebec City on Thursday, “The motive remains incomprehensible still today.” Lionel Carmant, the minister responsible for social services, told reporters there’s no evidence the accused sought or received care for mental health.

Witnesses described the driver as pulling off his clothes, yelling, and requiring restraint after he got off the bus.

The driver was Pierre Ny St-Amand, 51, who worked for the city’s transit authority, Société de transport de Laval, for 10 years. His Facebook page shows him with his wife and two young daughters. His wife’s Facebook profile picture shows them smiling in front of a Christmas tree in December.

Police were stationed outside his home, about 10 km from the crash site, late Wednesday. Neighbours described him to the Canadian Press as a quiet, pleasant father.

He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder as well as seven other charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault. He appeared in court virtually on Wednesday afternoon, while lying in a hospital bed. His next court date is Feb. 17.

Rescue

Two of the six injured children were released from the hospital on Thursday. Two others at Montreal’s Sainte-Justine children’s hospital are reported to be in a “favourable” state of health. Two others are in a Laval hospital and their lives are not in danger.

At the daycare site on Thursday, Legault thanked the people who rushed to help the children after the crash.

André Beaudoin, whose 2-year-old son attends the daycare, was one of the first to respond. He had just parked his car to drop off his son when he saw the crash. He told reporters at the site Thursday that he helped pull four children from underneath the bus.

“I was the first under the bus … I have kids … so to me, there are kids under the bus, you have to get them out. No matter what happens,” he said.

Sébastien Courtois, the father of a 4-year-old boy who was taken to hospital, told Radio Canada his wife arrived on the scene Wednesday and saw their son lying on a table. When he saw his mother, the first question he asked was “Why did he do it?”

Laval police have not released any additional details about the investigation. Police spokesperson Erika Landry told The Epoch Times via email Thursday afternoon, “As for the reasons and the state of the suspect, it is all part of the investigation. ... The investigation is ongoing. I can tell you that the suspect has no link to the daycare.”

Police set up a command post on site Thursday, along with crisis workers available to provide support to citizens.

Prime Minister Trudeau said in Ottawa Wednesday, “I can’t imagine what the families are going through, but if there’s anything the federal government can do, we'll be there.”

“I know there are no words for parents who have lost their children this way,” he said.

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre said on Twitter, “I’m heartbroken by the violent bus attack at the daycare in Laval. ... My heart goes out to the family members who lost loved ones and those injured in this tragedy.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.