MONTREAL—Police say that street racing could be behind a fatal crash on Wednesday that claimed the lives of a 19-year-old driver and his 15-year-old passenger. The man driving the other car faces a life sentence.
Jeremi Limoges was at the accident scene on Thursday, hoping to find something that belonged to his cousin before the last pieces of debris were taken away.
“I just took a coat and boots from the girl, there was nothing of my cousin,” said Limoges, choking up.
Samuel Poupart died on Wednesday afternoon when his car crashed into a hydro pole along a country road in St-Remi. The impact was so violent that his passenger, Catherine Leclerc, was ejected from the car and killed.
Limoges was one of the first people on the scene after the accident. “I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t a joke,” he said.
Police believe ‘street racing' caused the victim to lose control of his car, even though he wasn't directly involved, Maxime Poissant, was charged on Thursday with dangerous driving causing death while street racing, an important nuance.
“The difference is when there's street racing, the maximum penalty is a life sentence. The gravity is much higher than when there's no street racing,” said crown prosecutor Sacha Blais. The maximum penalty without street racing is 14 years in jail.
According to Limoges, street racing is just a fact of life in St-Remi, as is getting caught and doing it again.
“I know 15 people that will lose their driver’s licenses,” said Limoges.
“This time, it makes you think because it’s someone I actually know, and now he’s gone,” said Philippe Robillard, a friend of the victim.
Poissant's lawyer won't talk about his client just yet, only that he will remain behind bars until his bail hearing on Monday.
