Boating accident in Quebec’s Laurentians leaves victims dead

The driver of a watercraft responsible for the death of a toddler in the Baskatong Reservoir has been arrested, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) confirmed on Sunday.

The 31-year-old was released on condition that he appear in court.

“He could face charges of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death,” said SQ spokesman Nicolas Scholtus.

The child’s body was recovered on Sunday, a day after the incident occurred in the reservoir in Quebec’s Upper Laurentians.

The first emergency call to the MRC Antoine-Labelle rescue service at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday concerned a “boating accident”.

According to police, only one boat was involved in the incident.

“According to preliminary information, one person suffered serious injuries in the incident and divers from the Sûreté du Québec and a lifeguard unit went to the scene of the accident,” said SQ spokeswoman Ève Brochu-Joubert. “During the night, divers fished out the missing person. The victim is a child under the age of five. Unfortunately, she was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Investigators and accident reconstructionists were sent to the scene to determine the causes and circumstances that led to the child’s death.

– This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 3, 2024.