A train and a car collided east of St. Hyacinthe around 7:15 Monday morning, killing a 42-year-old man and a 21-month old boy.
The man was ejected from the car as it was ripped apart, while the toddler was taken to hospital in critical condition where he died of his injuries.
Police have confirmed they are Thierry Patenaude-Turcotte and his son Nicolas.
“We heard a boom and then we heard the ambulance and went out to see what happened,” said a nearby resident.
The strength of the impact tore the car into several pieces with large chunks of debris scattered along the tracks for about 100 metres.
The collision took place on Charlotte Trail, about 1 kilometre south of Highway 20 and police blocked off the road while they conducted their investigation.
The Surete du Quebec has confirmed that information they found both on and off the scene led them to believe the victim might have deliberately driven in front of the moving train.
“The investigation has been taken over by the homicide squad of the Surete du Quebec and the reason for that is we cannot exclude for the moment that this could be a voluntary act that it was deliberate to the collision,” said SQ spokesperson Joyce Kemp.
Via Rail said the crossing barriers were down, lights were flashing, and everything was working as it should. Video camera footage from the train is being given to police, which should confirm that information.
Specialists worked through the day reconstructing the scene to try and establish exactly what occurred.
“There's also work to be done by the investigators, several people to be met with, potential witnesses to try and gather as much information as we can,” said Kemp.
Signals and barriers were tested at the crossing, where employees say everything appeared to be working at the time of the crash. They're collaborating with the SQ and the Transportation Safety Board investigations.
“We have a video camera on board every locomotive that we have so these pieces of evidence or material evidence will be shared with the proper authorities,” said Via rail spokesperson Jacques C. Gagnon.
A spokesperson from Via Rail said Train #20 was heading from Montreal to Quebec, and said when high-speed trains are involved the chances of survival are slim to none.
The train continued its trip to Drummondville at 10:45 a.m. once replacement engineers arrived to drive the train the rest of its trip.
Two Via rail engineers on duty were treated for shock.
Some passengers decided to return to Montreal, while others continued to their destination on buses.
