Driver who crashed bus into Laval daycare ‘stole our innocent child,’ mother tells court

The tragic incident that occurred on February 8, 2023, when a city bus crashed into a daycare in the Montreal area, resulting in the death of a four-year-old boy named Jacob and a five-year-old girl named Maeva, has left families shattered and seeking justice. The accused, former city bus driver Pierre Ny St-Amand, was found not criminally responsible for the fatal crash due to his inability to discern right from wrong at the time, as determined by psychiatrists for both the Crown and the defence.

Marie-Christine Cloutier, the mother of Jacob, expressed her anger and devastation in a victim-impact statement delivered in a courtroom in Laval, Quebec. She described how Ny St-Amand had “broken” her family by taking away their innocent child who only wanted to play with his friends and sister. Cloutier’s words echoed the sentiments of other families affected by the tragedy, who also shared their pain and disbelief at the outcome of the trial.

Maeva’s mother, who was not present in court, conveyed the deep impact of losing her daughter, expressing the difficulty of explaining to her other children why the person responsible for their pain was not being held criminally accountable. Maeva’s father painted a poignant picture of his daughter as a creative, focused, and playful child, recounting a heartbreaking moment when she made a wish for their family to stay together, a wish that would never be fulfilled.

As the courtroom was filled with tears and sorrow during the reading of the victim-impact statements, Ny St-Amand remained impassive in the prisoner’s box. Prosecutors have indicated their intention to argue for Ny St-Amand to be declared a high-risk accused, a decision that would impose stricter regulations and require confirmation by the Superior Court for any decisions made by the mental health tribunal.

Despite the ruling of not criminally responsible, the families of the victims continue to seek answers and justice for their lost loved ones. Cloutier expressed the profound pain of having to prepare her child’s funeral at the age of 36, a task no parent should ever have to face. The road to healing and closure will be long and challenging for these families, as they grapple with the aftermath of a senseless tragedy that has forever altered their lives.