Quebec provincial police confirmed that three people died in three separate road collisions overnight in different regions of the province, and several others were critically injured.
Timeline and locations
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) reported that the incidents occurred at different hours and locations:
- Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse: At about 12:30 a.m. a vehicle veered off Route 132 East near Chemin Mistral. The lone occupant, a 35-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Franquelin: At roughly 3:20 a.m. a single-vehicle crash on Route 138 involved four occupants. All were taken to hospital; one person was declared dead while the other three remain in critical condition.
- Saint-Tite-des-Caps: Around 6 a.m. emergency crews responded to a crash where a vehicle rolled several times after reportedly veering out of its lane on Route 138. Two people in their 30s were transported to hospital — a 37-year-old woman later died at the hospital and a man is in critical condition.
Police description and road impacts
The SQ described all three incidents as single-vehicle crashes. In each case the reasons the vehicles lost control have not been determined publicly.
Road closures were implemented where required. The stretch of Route 132 near Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse was closed following the overnight collision and reopened at about 4:45 a.m. Northbound and southbound lanes near Franquelin were restricted, with two of the three lanes in the accident area closed into the morning hours.
Victims and aftermath
Authorities have released only ages for two of the deceased — a 35-year-old man at Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse and a 37-year-old woman who died in hospital after the Saint-Tite-des-Caps collision. No names or hometowns were provided in the SQ release.
In Franquelin, of four people transported to hospital, one died and the other three were described by police as in critical condition. In Saint-Tite-des-Caps the male passenger remains in critical condition.
Public safety context
Single-vehicle crashes can result from a range of factors including driver error, road conditions, mechanical failure, wildlife or medical events. The SQ has not specified whether impairment, excessive speed, weather or other causes are being examined in these investigations.
When collisions involve serious injuries or fatalities, investigators typically secure the scene, collect witness statements, examine vehicle conditions and review available video or telemetry, then release findings when inquiries allow.
Practical information for motorists
Police and emergency services remind drivers to take precautions, particularly on rural highways where collisions often occur:
- Maintain appropriate speed for conditions and obey speed limits.
- Avoid distractions while driving.
- Be vigilant for changing road or weather conditions, especially at night.
- Ensure vehicles are roadworthy, including brakes and tyres.
| Location | Approximate time | Fatalities | Injured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse (Route 132) | ~12:30 a.m. | 1 (35-year-old man) | — |
| Franquelin (Route 138) | ~3:20 a.m. | 1 | 3 (critical) |
| Saint-Tite-des-Caps (Route 138) | ~6 a.m. | 1 (37-year-old woman) | 1 (critical) |
The SQ said investigations are ongoing for each crash. Further details may be released as investigators conclude their on-scene work and follow-up inquiries.
These tragedies underscore continuing concerns about road safety across Quebec’s regional highways, where long distances, variable weather and limited lighting can increase crash risks. Provincial police will lead collision reconstructions and notify families when appropriate.
Reporting from Quebec City area.
