A Tragic Day in Quebec: Bus Crash at Daycare Leaves Two Children Dead

A Quebec courtroom was filled with tears and stunned silence as a video was played on Monday, showing the horrifying moment a city bus crashed into a daycare in the Montreal area, resulting in the deaths of two children and injuries to six others.

The video, captured by cameras inside the bus, depicted the crash from the perspective of driver Pierre Ny St-Amand as he made a sharp turn into the driveway of the Laval daycare and then accelerated, with the engines revving, directly into the side of the building.

Following the impact, the video abruptly cut off, leaving the courtroom in a state of shock and grief as the sound of crying filled the room.

Ny St-Amand, 53, was taken into custody after the bus he was operating crashed into the front of the daycare on February 8, 2023, resulting in the tragic deaths of a four-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl. He is currently facing two counts of second-degree murder, as well as charges of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm in connection with the six other children who were injured.

Both the prosecution and the defense have jointly agreed that Ny St-Amand should be found not criminally responsible for his actions.

During the trial, Ny St-Amand, dressed in a grey sweater and with his hands handcuffed in front of him, remained composed as the video of the crash was played on a television screen suspended from the ceiling. At the beginning of the trial, he stood and confirmed his not guilty plea in a subdued voice.

The court heard in a summary of facts that Ny St-Amand did not apply the brakes as he approached the daycare’s driveway but instead accelerated. “Once in a straight line into the parking lot, he accelerates toward the west side of the building,” the prosecutor stated.

The initial hours of the trial did not shed light on the motive behind the accused’s alleged actions. It was revealed that Ny St-Amand had been assigned the bus route automatically and had not requested it. Earlier footage from the bus cameras showed him picking up and dropping off passengers in a normal manner.

After the crash, Ny St-Amand was seen inside the damaged bus removing his clothing and speaking incoherently. He was restrained by two parents until the authorities arrived, as per the statement of facts.

The trial is expected to last several days and will include a detailed presentation of the facts as well as testimony from two psychiatric experts who have determined that Ny St-Amand should not be held criminally responsible for his actions.

Justice Eric Downs of the Quebec Superior Court is overseeing the proceedings and will ultimately decide on Ny St-Amand’s criminal responsibility.

Outside the courtroom, individuals who were present during the crash expressed their difficulty in watching the trial unfold.

Mike Haddad, one of the parents who helped restrain the suspect, voiced his distress at witnessing the video and the suspect’s demeanor. “To see the accused showing no remorse or emotion whatsoever, it’s truly shocking,” he remarked. Haddad also expressed the families’ struggle in coming to terms with the likely verdict of not criminally responsible.

“If this person is not to be held accountable and sent to prison, then who should be?” he questioned.