On Wednesday, Feb 8, tragedy struck a daycare center in Laval, Canada, when a bus driver, Pierre Ny St-Amand, 51, drove a city bus into the building at a speed of approximately 24 mph. Twelve people were hit, with six injured.
Unfortunately, two children died after sustaining injuries, one died at the scene, and one died at the hospital. Six children were injured but are expected to survive.
Witnesses described St-Amand as acting erratically, screaming, and taking off his clothes before exiting the vehicle.
The victims have not been identified, but authorities said the daycare caters to children that are under five years old. The driver has been arrested and charged with homicide.
Chaabane, an eyewitness to the incident, stated that it did not appear to be an accident and that he and others were attempting to subdue the driver. He was also able to rescue one boy but encountered difficulties in rescuing a girl, as reported by the Daily Mail Uk.
The daycare is located at the end of a driveway off a cul-de-sac, although the driver would need to veer off the road and drive down the long driveway in order to hit the building.
According to CBS News, there were no skid marks left behind, leading Mario Sirois, another witness, to remark that the driver had gone straight into the daycare.
The police specified that the driver had been employed for ten years and had no prior criminal record.
The mayor of Laval, Stephane Boyer, suggested that it may have been an intentional act; however, this remains to be confirmed.
The Guardian reported that Larval Police Chief Pierre Brochet said, “We think it’s deliberate, but we don’t know the motive.”
Government officials have stated that this is not a terrorist attack, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed condolences to the parents who lost their children.
He said in a statement, “All Canadians are grieving with them and will do whatever we can to support them in their horrific pain over the coming days and months and years.”