A few days before the start of the school year, a 12-year-old boy who had just brought back books to the library was fatally struck by a truck on Thursday morning in Repentigny.
The tragedy took place around 11:15 a.m., in front of the Robert-Lussier municipal library, located at the corner of Boulevard Iberville and Place d’Évry.
According to authorities, the boy had just returned some books he had borrowed.
He then got on his bike and was driving on the sidewalk when a City of Repentigny cube truck struck him.
Photo Agence QMI, Maxime Deland
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According to Repentigny police spokesperson Bruno Marier, the young cyclist and the vehicle were traveling in the same direction on Iberville Boulevard.
The truck driver made a right turn to enter the library yard just as the child was passing.
The blue collar would have, without knowing it, cut the path of the boy, who could not avoid the impact.
Suffering from very serious head injuries, he was taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
No helmet
The child was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
“They tried really hard to revive him, but it was clearly too late. He hit his head very hard and had lost a lot of blood. The helmet, it is so important to wear it, “dropped Anis Zamoia, a witness to the tragic accident.
Anis Zamoia
Witness
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According to another witness to the scene, the driver of the cube truck repeated “that he had never seen it”.
« [L’enfant] was possibly in his blind spot. The driver remained on the scene throughout the scene, he was completely in shock and obviously felt very guilty, ”she told the Journal.
The latter was met by investigators during the afternoon so that he could give his version of the facts.
He also received psychological support to help him overcome the shock.
Library employees, who were ordered not to speak to the media, witnessed the scene and said they were deeply shaken by the accident.
Five minutes by bike
According to our information, the victim lived about 5 minutes by bike from the library.
In the early evening Thursday, people came to drop a plush and flowers in memory of the young boy.
Photo Erika Aubin
Flowers left behind in the early evening Thursday.
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The victim’s father went to the scene around 7 p.m. He read a little note left behind with the flowers before leaving, his eyes filled with water.
“He’s my son,” he breathed, his throat tight.
-With Frédérique Giguère and Erika Aubin
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