Coroner investigating after 2 women fatally struck along Montreal highways near Inuit lodging centre

Inuit in Quebec's Nunavik region are in mourning after two women staying at the Ullivik lodging centre in Dorval were killed after being struck by vehicles in the area last week.

One was on foot along Highway 20, and the other was in a wheelchair on Highway 520.

The centre by Trudeau Airport is a place to stay for those travelling for medical care. It has been open since 2016.

"Both situations were completely unexpected," said Steven Kelly, the interim director of community services at the centre, run by the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS).

"We're still wondering why this happened."

The first, 22-year-old Mary-Jane Tulugak from Puvirnituq, had been heading down Highway 520 in a wheelchair before she was hit early Friday morning. She died in hospital soon after.

Kelly said she had travelled south for a minor surgery.

Less than 24 hours later, another woman died after being struck multiple times on Highway 20 around 1:20 a.m. Saturday, provincial police said. The 26-year-old from Umiujaq, Nellie Niviaxie, was declared dead after being found by first responders.

Niviaxie had been at the centre accompanying another person from her community undergoing medical care.

"It's a very difficult time for everybody," Kelly said, adding that support is there for staff and any residents who are feeling shaken.

He said the regional health board has also arranged for elders to visit with the two women's families in their home communities.

The coroner's officer confirmed Friday a case has been opened to investigate what led to women's deaths.

Both women were making their way along the shoulder of the highways in the area around 55th Avenue, provincial police said. The street runs under both highways.

A representation of bigger problems

Dr. Stanley Vollant, an Innu surgeon at Montreal's Notre-Dame hospital, is calling for a deeper investigation from authorities as he believes these deaths could have been avoided. 

"These two tragic deaths represent the tip of the iceberg of a more profound problem," Vollant said in an interview with Radio-Canada's Le 15-18.

"We can't stay silent about these tragedies that risk repeating themselves."

Vollant says Inuit from northern communities come to the Ullivik centre to get help, but they can have trouble adapting to urban life in Montreal. He said the centre being situated between two busy highways, when many residents can suffer from alcohol and drug dependencies, can bring about fatal consequences. 

Vollant says while the answer might be complicated, he wants to see better solutions, including from the provincial government, to keep these vulnerable populations safer.

Police don't believe the two incidents are directly related — but said they're also investigating why the two women staying at the centre decided to cut through the highway.

No charges have been laid against either of the drivers involved.

The centre helps arrange for clients who need to travel during the day, but the service isn't available on evenings and weekends.

Kelly says the centre will continue to emphasize caution around the highways, especially for those coming from more remote villages. They also keep in touch with patients who get referred to neighbouring hotels since they can only book up to 91 people per night.

"We do keep a close track of the people who stay, whether it's at Ullivik or the neighbouring hotels," he said, saying they rely on a network of health providers, police and others they can call on in case people go missing.

But they don't micromanage their residents either, he said. 

"We don't want to have to lock the door. They have the right to be able to come and go as they please outside of their appointments."