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Quebec provincial police say a man is expected to appear in court Tuesday after he allegedly plowed into pedestrians — killing two of them and injuring nine others in Amqui, Que.
Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Hélène St-Pierre said the 38-year-old driver will be at the courthouse in the eastern Quebec town in the afternoon, but could not specify which charges he faces. Global News has reached out to Quebec’s Crown prosecutors about the charges.
The investigation continues into the fatal crash, which occurred in the downtown Amqui on Monday afternoon. Police say the driver allegedly drove into pedestrians with a pickup truck on St-Benoît Boulevard, also known as Route 132.
Provincial police Sgt. Claude Doiron told reporters gathered near the scene Tuesday the investigation suggests the act was “pre-meditated.”
Two men were killed in the crash. Police identified them as Gérald Charest, 65, and Jean Lafrenière, 73.
Three victims were still in critical condition after sustaining life-threatening injuries. The other six people were seriously injured, but police say their lives are not in danger.
Doiron confirmed two of the victims are young children: a baby under the age of one and a child under the age of three. They were both seriously injured, but they are expected to survive.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of committing a fatal hit and run and homicide after he turned himself into authorities. The man in custody is from the area and he has been cooperating with investigators, according to Doiron.
Police did not provide more information about the suspect’s identity, other than to say he wasn’t known to authorities. Doiron said a motive has yet to be established and the investigation is ongoing.
A large perimetre remained in place at the scene of the crash and Route 132 was closed to traffic.
— with files from Global News’ Annabelle Olivier and The Canadian Press
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