2023-09-15 04:00:00
A heavy vehicle enthusiast who attended truck races in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce earlier this month had to undergo complete throat reconstruction following being hit by debris following an explosion.
“It shook us up quite a bit. We don’t expect to live a nightmare like that when we’re preparing an activity where we’re supposed to have fun as a family,” laments Julien Malenfant.
His father, Steeve, left Fermont to join him and his sister on the last day of the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce Truck Accelerations, on September 3. A release that had been planned for a while.
Steeve Malenfant has always been passionate regarding trucks. We see it here during an exhibition in Rivière-du-Loup. Provided by Julien Malenfant
The 52-year-old man was supposed to wait for his son at the side of the track at the start of the day, but the latter never had time to arrive. Around 10:30 a.m., he received a call that an accident had occurred and that his father was injured (see video).
“The truck’s turbo exploded during a race. Projectiles pierced the iron of the hood in all directions and one was lodged in my father’s throat,” says the victim’s son.
A stroke of bad luck
Quickly, spectators and paramedics took care of the man before he was rushed to the hospital center. According to Julien Malenfant, there were no other victims.
“He was really in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he emphasizes.
Steeve Malenfant and his daughter, Audrey Malenfant, during truck transport to Fermont Provided by Julien Malenfant
A six-hour operation and tracheotomy were necessary to reconstruct his entire throat. The projectile notably damaged his father’s larynx, vocal cords and esophagus.
“He spent a week in intensive care. Only time will tell if he will live with following-effects all his life,” adds the 23-year-old.
A fundraising campaign was also launched on the GoFundMe platform to allow those close to Steeve Malenfant to devote themselves solely to his recovery.
“Not a disaster,” says the president
Questioned by The newspaper on the security surrounding the event, the president of the competition, Benoît Gagné, responded that we might “interpret that as we wanted”.
“It’s not that much of a disaster (sic) […] When we go to the races, we go to the races,” he said before hanging up on the author of these lines.
The truck drag races took place from September 1 to 3, in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce. Provided by Julien Malenfant
A response which clearly does not suit the family of Steeve Malenfant, who is considering the possibility of continuing the organization.
“I firmly believe that there was a major lack of security at the site,” complains the victim’s son, who nevertheless wishes to emphasize that he holds no resentment towards the pilot.
“The organization installed fences through which we might pass our arm without problem. It does nothing to protect the crowd,” he adds.
A simple fence mounted on concrete blocks protected spectators from potential debris. Provided by Julien Malenfant
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