A couple from Shannon, near Quebec City, suffered an accident on February 10, while leaving their yard to go to an appointment for a new job.
“With the snowbanks that are so high that you can’t see anything, the car has to be halfway up the street for you to be able to see. I have often said: ‘at some point, there is an accident that will happen’ and it had to fall on us, ”explained Maryna Bérubé.
The large amount of snow accumulated on the land affects visibility. The snow reached in places almost 6 feet high.
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Despite many precautions taken when leaving their yard, she and her husband were hit by a vehicle traveling in the street.
“I saw the window pane all cracked, there was smoke, there was a big, very intense smell and then at some point I felt something hot running down my face and I put my fingers and I said: ‘Vincent, I’m bleeding from the head’…”
Due to a rare bone disease which makes her more fragile, Ms. Bérubé suffered numerous fractures to her ribs and one foot and had to be hospitalized for regarding ten days. Her partner was able to return home following two days in the hospital. However, he has to walk with a walker because of his injuries.
She asks the City to act to make the area safer, especially since her residence is located near two elementary schools.
“I have a lot of comings and goings of children as much in the morning, at noon as in the evening, it’s teeming with children. »
Mrs. Bérubé suggests in particular that the City collect snow during future snow removal operations. She would also like the addition of measures aimed at slowing motorists such as a speed bump or the installation of a mobile speed camera.
For her part, the Mayor of Shannon says she takes the situation seriously and, although she is not closing the door to the application of measures, the City will wait for the conclusions of the police report before making a decision.
“We went to check the height of the snowbank right away when we were notified […] the snowbank is no higher and no more of a problem than the whole area or the whole city. The snowbanks are all regarding the same height. Obviously, we have snow, so we have to put it somewhere,” said Sarah Perreault.
As for collecting snow, the Town would like to point out that it unfortunately does not have a snow dump and that such a solution is not possible in the short term.
In addition, Ms. Perreault affirms that the use of an educational speed camera from October 1 to November 15 in the sector did not make it possible to identify any problem in terms of speed. The latter might soon be back in the sector.
– With information fromEliane PiloteVAT News
