Truck Driver Arrested After Multi-Vehicle Pileup in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
A 39-year-old truck driver was arrested for drug possession following a five-vehicle collision on Boulevard Sainte-Anne in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. near the intersection of rue Jogues, when a heavy vehicle struck five cars that were immobilized at a traffic light near a Super C grocery store and a SAQ branch.
Authorities confirmed that the truck driver was uninjured in the crash. Police and road controllers initiated an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the pileup, including whether impaired driving was a factor.
Police Test Driver for Impaired Driving
According to Audrey-Ann Bilodeau, a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the exact reason why the driver struck the stationary vehicles est toujours sous enquête
. Isabelle Charette, vice-president of communications for the road controllers’ union, stated that the driver was taken into custody following coordination tests.
Blood samples were collected from the 39-year-old driver to test for impaired driving, though officials noted that the results will take several weeks to process. The suspect was found with a small quantity of drugs in his vehicle and was expected to be released pending further judicial proceedings. Authorities have not yet specified the exact type of substance recovered.
Five Motorists Sustain Injuries in Crash
Five male motorists aged 24 to 68 sustained injuries of varying severity. One motorist in his thirties initially suffered critical injuries, but his condition stabilized over the course of the morning and he is no longer considered in critical condition. The remaining four drivers sustained minor injuries.
Sûreté du Québec reconstitution specialists and road controllers deployed to the scene to analyze the site and inspect the heavy vehicle. By midday, the five damaged cars had already been towed, and the truck was in the process of being removed while traffic controllers directed motorists around the affected area.