Montreal Driver Plows through Pedestrians - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Fate · 11-12-2004, 09:36 PM

If you remember in the past, this occured in the southern US, an old man went through a crowded fair of some sort. This time it's in Canada, Montreal. These things are always tragic, and sad.
A: As a witness to someting like this: What do you think would cross your mind while seeing it happen?
B: if you were the driver: How would you cope with what just happened?

Link Here

There is also a news coverage videon in the top right corner if it interests you further.

Quote:

SUV careens into Montreal sidewalk, killing two
CTV.ca News Staff

Shocked pedestrians watched in horror Friday, as a 74-year-old driver's SUV plowed through a busy Montreal intersection. When the dust settled, two people were dead and seven others wounded.

"Je suis chanceux," Denis Bastien said, describing himself as lucky to have barely escaped the deadly crash in a busy intersection of Montreal's northwestern Cote-des-Neiges neighbourhood on Friday morning.

Bastien was luckier than the eight people -- some crossing the road, others wating for a bus -- who were injured by the careening Honda CRV. Police said three people, aged 67, 75 and 86, had been admitted to hospital in critical condition.

An 83-year-old man sitting on a roadside bench was killed when the vehicle came to rest, pinning him underneath. On Friday evening, the 75-year-old man sent to hospital in critical condition died, bringing to two the accident's deadly toll.

In an interview with Montreal radio station CKAC, an eyewitness described the scene seconds after he leapt out of the SUV's path.

"I just had time to get out of the way but it hit the people behind, mostly senior citizens.

"One flew over the hood, one was thrown into the street, people were flying around like bowling pins.''

Montreal Police Const. Olivier Lapointe says inve
stigators are struggling to piece together exactly what happened.

"There was either a loss of control or mechanical problems..but the car veered off and hit several pedestrians on the street and on the sidewalk,'' Lapointe told reporters.

"Just looking at the scene we think it's a possibility it's a false maneuver."

Recounting his view of the terrifying sequence of events, eyewitness Paul Lepore is convinced the driver lost control.

"He must have panicked," Lepore told CTV News "He stepped on the gas for sure."

Witnesses describe seeing the vehicle accelerating into the busy intersection and striking several pedestrians before slamming into a wall near a bus stop.

Huguette Desjardins, who witnessed the accident, told The Canadian Press that was when the driver and a pair of passengers emerged from the vehicle.

"The two women with him came out,'' Desjardins said. "They started throwing up and he was holding his head with both hands.''

The vehicle's driver was said to be in a state of shock following the crash, but not seriously injured.

Lapointe says it will take some time to determine whether mechanics, speed or the driver's age and reflexes played a part in the crash.

Manic_Skafe · 11-12-2004, 09:49 PM

I don't know much about Canada's geography but in almost all cases, there's no reason to have an SUV in the city. They eat gas, they often don't fit in the average parking space, and they're a big luxury waste of space.

A: Trying to help in anyway possible, keeping the eventual crowds away from the injured so they'd have as much air as possible, and calling for help.
B: I think I'd pass out but if I didn't I'd be doing the same as A.

Jimellow · 11-12-2004, 10:03 PM

If I were a witness to this, I'd probably be in shock, and not react initially. If I were the driver, I'd definitely be in shock and probably wanting to end my life.

This is a good article to use in the argument for drivers liscense re-tests for the elderly, regardless of whether it was a mechanical failure or not. You can't ignore the fact the guy was 74 years old.

It is ridiculous that these SUVs are so common in large cities, where they aren't "used," but living in the city, a valid argument could be made for not driving a car at all, and instead biking or using public transportation. I saw an elderly lady that must have been 75+ get into a Escalada that was massive last night. It's a scary sight to behold.

ninety09 · 11-13-2004, 07:29 AM

A: If I was there, I'd call for help and then see if I can help anyone.
B: I would be considering suicide.

I don't understand why we still don't make elderly people pass a test when they renew their liscense. Too expensive?

canuckguy · 11-13-2004, 08:22 AM

its just scary on the road now days, from the morons with cellphones in there hands, to the people eating full meals with both hands! people are just nuts. I usually take the back roads to and from work to avoid the major streets due to the aggressive drivers and the people who are doing everything but watching the road.
the other day on the drive home from work there was old lady, she was in the middle of the intersection, stopped, just idling, turn signal on looking straight ahead. (what it look like to me) she had tried to go down the wrong side of the divided street when turning left. she just sat there. it was sad but frustrating at the same time. i think some families really need to look at there grandparents and decide if they can still drive. i think it goes both ways with the young and older drivers. I have a high school near my house and some of those kids should not be driving. they are just crazy, most of the times its a boy driving with his 3 friends in the car trying to show off with break neck speeds. imo.

Zeraph · 11-13-2004, 09:13 AM

Looks like we need warning labels for cars now... "If you are over 70 GET OUT OF THIS CAR OLD FOOL!"

Fate · 11-13-2004, 09:45 AM

I totally agree and support re-testing for the elderly, and for police officers to hand out re-tests to crazy kids on the roads. It's a small step to ensure people are safer on the roads and for people walking from point A to point B.

Ella · 11-13-2004, 02:12 PM

A similar thing happened here in Australia in 2001 when an 18 year old girl who had been inhaling butane and was off her face, ploughed into a footpath on the Gold Coast. It happened to be a Sunday afternoon when there were a many pedestrians around, and she killed a nine year old girl and injured another 11 people, two seriously.

She spent only two and a half years in jail, and has her sentence downgraded to home detention, being allowed out for shopping trips with her infant daughter, much to the distress of the dead girl's mother.

Link to story

11-12-2004, 09:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Manic_Skafe More Than You Expect Location: Queens	I don't know much about Canada's geography but in almost all cases, there's no reason to have an SUV in the city. They eat gas, they often don't fit in the average parking space, and they're a big luxury waste of space. A: Trying to help in anyway possible, keeping the eventual crowds away from the injured so they'd have as much air as possible, and calling for help. B: I think I'd pass out but if I didn't I'd be doing the same as A. __________________ "Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian

11-13-2004, 09:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Fate Crazy Location: Montreal	I totally agree and support re-testing for the elderly, and for police officers to hand out re-tests to crazy kids on the roads. It's a small step to ensure people are safer on the roads and for people walking from point A to point B. __________________ vB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is Off HTML code is Off

11-13-2004, 02:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ella Ella Bo Bella Location: Australia	A similar thing happened here in Australia in 2001 when an 18 year old girl who had been inhaling butane and was off her face, ploughed into a footpath on the Gold Coast. It happened to be a Sunday afternoon when there were a many pedestrians around, and she killed a nine year old girl and injured another 11 people, two seriously. She spent only two and a half years in jail, and has her sentence downgraded to home detention, being allowed out for shopping trips with her infant daughter, much to the distress of the dead girl's mother. Link to story __________________ "Afterwards, the universe will explode for your pleasure."

11-12-2004, 10:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jimellow Junkie	If I were a witness to this, I'd probably be in shock, and not react initially. If I were the driver, I'd definitely be in shock and probably wanting to end my life. This is a good article to use in the argument for drivers liscense re-tests for the elderly, regardless of whether it was a mechanical failure or not. You can't ignore the fact the guy was 74 years old. It is ridiculous that these SUVs are so common in large cities, where they aren't "used," but living in the city, a valid argument could be made for not driving a car at all, and instead biking or using public transportation. I saw an elderly lady that must have been 75+ get into a Escalada that was massive last night. It's a scary sight to behold.

11-13-2004, 07:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
ninety09 Flavour of the Weak Location: Canada	A: If I was there, I'd call for help and then see if I can help anyone. B: I would be considering suicide. I don't understand why we still don't make elderly people pass a test when they renew their liscense. Too expensive?

11-13-2004, 08:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
canuckguy I read your emails. Location: earth	its just scary on the road now days, from the morons with cellphones in there hands, to the people eating full meals with both hands! people are just nuts. I usually take the back roads to and from work to avoid the major streets due to the aggressive drivers and the people who are doing everything but watching the road. the other day on the drive home from work there was old lady, she was in the middle of the intersection, stopped, just idling, turn signal on looking straight ahead. (what it look like to me) she had tried to go down the wrong side of the divided street when turning left. she just sat there. it was sad but frustrating at the same time. i think some families really need to look at there grandparents and decide if they can still drive. i think it goes both ways with the young and older drivers. I have a high school near my house and some of those kids should not be driving. they are just crazy, most of the times its a boy driving with his 3 friends in the car trying to show off with break neck speeds. imo.

11-13-2004, 09:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Looks like we need warning labels for cars now... "If you are over 70 GET OUT OF THIS CAR OLD FOOL!"