Full Breakdown
Vehicle Collision Injuries Six Festival-goers at Saint-Tite’s Western Celebration
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Early Saturday morning, a vehicle struck pedestrians on Saint-Joseph Boulevard in Saint-Tite, a town about 200 km northeast of Montreal hosting the annual Festival Western de Saint-Tite. Police were called around 4:30 a.m.; six people were hit and transported to hospital with injuries that police later described as non-life-threatening. The driver fled the scene, and the vehicle was located near Quebec City about an hour later. A man in his 20s was arrested and is being questioned by investigators from the Sûreté du Québec.
Background & Context
The Festival Western de Saint-Tite is a ten-day country-western event that draws thousands of visitors. On the day of the collision, three provincial party leaders—Charles Millard of the Quebec Liberal Party, Christine Fréchette of the Coalition Avenir Québec, and Pierre St-Pierre Plamondon of the Parti Québécois—had scheduled stops at the festival as part of their campaign tours. Festival officials announced that activities would continue as planned, emphasizing security measures for attendees.
Official Statements & Responses
Festival board chair Danielle St-Amand described the event as “an isolated incident” and stressed that the site remains “extremely secure.” Premier Christine Fréchette expressed condolences and said the investigation would determine the causes. Party leaders Charles Millard, Christine Fréchette, and Pierre St-Pierre Plamondon each posted messages of sympathy and support for first responders.
Data & Statistics
- Six pedestrians injured; injuries range from minor to serious but none life-threatening.
- Vehicle located near Quebec City at approximately 5:30 a.m.; suspect a man in his 20s.
- Saint-Joseph Boulevard closed to vehicle traffic between Du Couvent and Moulin Streets for most of Saturday while investigators work the scene.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those affected by the events that took place at the Western Festival in St-Tite. The ongoing investigation will determine the causes of this act,” — Leader Christine Fréchette
- “My thoughts are with the injured individuals, their loved ones, and all those who witnessed the distressing scene in Saint-Tite.,” — St-Pierre Plamondon
- “We don’t have all of the details because now he’s getting questioned by the Sûreté du Québec but from what we learned, he’s been involved in a quarrel, a little fight. He left the scene, hit the pedestrians and he was apprehended about an hour later,” — Lafrenière. The
- “The fact is, this is an isolated incident — that’s what we need to keep in mind — and the site is extremely secure,” — Danielle St-Amand, the festival’s board chair