Alleged impaired driver crashes with SUV carrying migrants in Quebec, say police

A joint investigation  is underway in Hemmingford, Que., near the U.S. border, after a collision involving a driver who was arrested for impaired driving, and a second vehicle that police said was carrying migrants, some of whom fled the scene on foot.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) said emergency responders were called at around 4:15 a.m., for a collision on Route 202, near the intersection of Jackson Road, in Hemmingford, roughly 65 kilometres south of Montreal. 

SQ spokesperson Stéphane Tremblay said following impact, the vehicle carrying the migrants rolled over, injuring four people.

They were taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while the remaining passengers fled the scene. 

In an interview with Radio-Canada, Tremblay described their immigration status as irregular, but didn't elaborate.

There have been conflicting reports as to the number of people in the SUV, with the SQ initially saying there were 10 migrants and later updating that number to 12.

As of 10:30 a.m., police were still searching for eight people thought to have been travelling in the SUV.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told Radio-Canada that the migrants entered Canada from the United States, but didn't say when.

The SQ said the RCMP was called in to assist in the search using drones and a canine unit.

Tremblay later clarified it was a joint investigation, with the SQ responsible for looking into the circumstances surrounding the crash, while the RCMP are handling aspects pertaining to the migrants.

According to the SQ, the driver of the second vehicle, a 48-year-old American man, was arrested for impaired driving. A passenger travelling in his vehicle was not injured.