The trucker responsible for a monster pileup that killed four people on Highway 440 in Laval in 2019 faced a dozen victims’ relatives seeking answers Wednesday as he appeared for the start of the trial.
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• Read more: Fatal accident on Highway 440: Fatal criminal negligence charged
Photo courtesy of Court
This photo, filed in court, demonstrates the significance of the 2019 Highway 440 pileup fire in Laval. We notice burnt broccoli falling from the truck.
“I want to understand what happened,” Nicolas Marsolais dropped as he left the courtroom.
The latter struggled to hold back tears in the morning after the Crown prosecutor briefed Judge Yannick Laramie on the case.
During the tragedy, the vehicle in which his father, along with his wife, was traveling, caught fire after the impact. Gilles Marsolais and Michel Bernier, newly retired from the Montreal police, didn’t stand a chance.
Photo by Martin Alary
Throughout the day, relatives of the victims had to meet the accused at the Laval courthouse, a difficult situation for many.
Jagmeet Grewal is standing trial for criminal negligence causing death and grievous bodily harm.
On August 5, 2019, he was driving at 100 km/h on Highway 440 without resisting a line of stationary vehicles at the height of the curve to Highway 15.
Archive photo
“We’re going to prove that Mr. Grewal’s driving at the wheel of his tractor-trailer was dangerous, but more than that it shows wanton and reckless disregard for the safety of others,” said Crown prosecutor Me. Simon Place, in his opening statement.
The Journal recently reported that the accused would not have found himself behind the wheel of his semi-trailer had it not been for a serious mistake by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) that had not given him his driver’s license. .. by mistake.
In 2012, Mr. was involved in a traffic collision in the United States. Grewal was declared permanently unfit to work as a truck driver, specifically because of his mental health problems.
Despite these findings, he reapplied for the Class 1 license required to drive a truck. He got it.
Photo taken from Facebook
At the time of the pileup, the trucker knew he was unfit to drive, according to the Crown. He neglected to control his diabetes and took several medications that affected his ability to drive Newspaper Last week.
Disturbing information unknown to the victims and relatives of the dead until very recently.
“The whole story of SAAQ’s error bothers me, it’s inexplicable,” said Patricia LaBlante, who has not been able to return to work since accumulating injuries.
“We grieved and the dust had time to settle. But there, it’s like we’re kicking to bring it,” said Nicolas Marsolais.
