2 children dead, driver charged after bus crashes into daycare in Laval, Que.

WARNING: This article contains distressing details.

A 51-year-old man drove a city bus into a daycare in Laval, Que., on Wednesday morning,killing two children and injuring six more.

Pierre Ny St-Amand, a bus driver withthe Socit de transport de Laval (STL), was arrested at the scene.

He has been charged with several crimes,including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm.

Around 8:30 a.m., the Laval city bus crashed into the Garderie ducative de Sainte-Rose in the Sainte-Rose neighbourhood on Terrasse Dufferin. There is a bus stop for the 151 line on the roundabout near the daycare.

A neighbour who witnessed the crash said he and a group of parents tried to rescue children pinned under the bus and managed to subdue the driver, who was acting erratically.

Laval police spokesperson Erika Landry said one child died at the scene. Seven children were rushed to hospital with injuries and one died in hospital. One adultwas also taken to hospital to be treated for shock.

Dr. Marc Girard, the director of professional services at Sainte-Justine Hospital, said at an afternoon news conference that the hospital admittedfour victims, all preschool-agechildren, two boys and two girls.

The children were conscious when they arrived at the hospital, but were suffering from various traumatic injuries, Girard said. They are now recovering and in stable condition, he said.

Sbastien Rocheleau, director of medical services at the Laval regional health authority,said theCit-de-la-SantHospital received three patients from the daycare. One childdied despite resuscitation efforts. Theother two are under observation and their injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Suspect makes court appearance via video link

On Wednesday afternoon, the suspect appeared in court virtually while lying in a hospital bed. The proceedingswere delayed several times, as the judge wondered if St-Amand was fit to appear in court, but the situation was eventually sorted out and the appearance went ahead as planned.

St-Amand is scheduled to be in court in person on Feb. 17.

WATCH| Neighbour explains how fight with suspect unfolded:

Witness describes fight with 'naked' and 'screaming' bus driver just after daycare crash

2 years ago

Duration 2:26

Laval resident Hamdi Ben Chaabane says he and three parents struggled to subdue the bus driver before helping victims in the moments after the bus crashed into the daycare.

Driver was in 'another world,' resident says

Hamdi Ben Chaabane, who lives in the neighbourhood andwas one of the first on the scene, said the bus must have beentravelling 30 or 40 km/hwhen it struck the daycare.

"From what I saw, it wasn't an accident," he said.

After the bus struck the daycare, the driver emerged and began acting erratically.

"He opened the door.He took off all his clothes. He was totally naked," Ben Chaabane said. "We don't know why he did that. We dove on him. We tried to subdue him."

He described the driver as being "in another world."

"It was a nightmare. It's horrible. He didn't stop yelling. He wasn't saying words," Ben Chaabane said.

WATCH | Drone footage of where the bus struck:

Drone captures bird's-eye view of Laval daycare bus crash scene

2 years ago

Duration 0:47

Police created a large perimeter around the Garderie ducative de Sainte-Rose in Laval, Que., after a city bus crashed into the daycare.

Thegroup workedto pry children out from underneath the bus,Ben Chaabane said. They reached one child, who was only lightly injured, but were unable to reach a girl who was stuck deeper beneath rubble, he said.

He said theycontinued trying to reach the trapped children until firefighters arrived and told them to leave because the roof of the daycare was caving in.

"It's chaos," said Julia Moreno, a mother whose child was in the daycare when the bus struck it. "There are injured children. It's terrible."

WATCH| Parents explain'horrible' scene aftercrash :

Parent describes 'chaos' of Laval daycare bus crash aftermath

2 years ago

Duration 0:53

Nathalie Vaillancourt describes the scene at a daycare after a bus crashed into the building Wednesday morning.

Nathalie Vaillancourt, another mother whose child was inside, said the bus destroyed the frontof the daycare. Both mothers said their children escaped physically unhurt.

Urgences-sant dispatched seven ambulances, a "tactical medical vehicle" which responds to unusual medical situations, often alongside police and a rapid response team.

"It's terrible what happened this morning in Laval," Premier Franois Legault told a group of reporters at the National Assembly. "All my thoughts are with the children, with the parents and with the employees."

Public Security Minister FranoisBonnardel, Family Minister Suzanne Roy and Christopher Skeete, the MNA for the Sainte-Rose riding, went to the sceneto assess the situation.

Laval Mayor Stphane Boyer said psychologists would be available for those affected.

According to Boyer, the bus driver hadworked for the STL for 10 yearsbut had no prior incidents on his record.

"There is a hypothesis that this was an intentional act but it will have to be confirmed by the investigation," Boyer said, adding that it was unclear if St-Amand had any connection to the daycare.

"It's a tragic act," Boyersaid. "Obviously there are lots of parents right now wondering if their child was affected. I really want to be there for the families, show support."

The STL said in a statement it was devastated by the "tragedy in Laval."

"Our hearts go out to the families and employees affected by this tragedy," the statement said. "The Service de police de la Ville de Laval is currently conducting an investigation in which we are actively collaborating."

The bus drivers' union released a statement this afternoon saying its members are in shock and wholeheartedly supportthe parents and the daycare workers affected by this "tragic event." The union says it is co-operating with the authorities investigating the event.

The CISSSde Laval, the regional health board for that city, is inviting anyone who needs psychological help due to Wednesday's events to contact the province's telehealth services.

"Anyone who needs psychological help can dial 811, option two. They will be listened to and directed to the right resources," the health board tweeted.

2 children killed after bus crashes into Quebec daycare

2 years ago

Duration 3:07

Two children are dead and six others are in hospital after a city bus crashed into a daycare in Laval, Que. The driver was arrested at the scene and now faces first-degree murder charges.