Questions swirl after Laval, Que., bus crash. Here's what we know so far

WARNING: This article contains distressing details.

Authorities say a bus crash at a Laval daycare on Wednesday was a deliberate act, but police say they do not yet know what motivated it.

Two children are dead. Six others were hospitalized yesterday but two of them have since been discharged. 

The event has shocked people across Quebec as they try to make sense of what happened and why.

Here's what we know so far about how the incident occurred, the victims and the man arrested on the scene: 

The incident

• The bus hit the daycare, Garderie Éducative de Sainte-Rose, around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to Laval police.
• The daycare is situated on Terrasse Dufferin, at the end of a dead end where there is a roundabout and a bus stop. The daycare is set back approximately 40m from the road.  
• The city bus was part of the Société de transport de Laval (STL) fleet. It smashed down the exterior wall of the daycare on impact, which threatened to collapse parts of the roof. 
• Numerous police cars, ambulances and firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes.
• Police arrested the suspected driver, who had been subdued by parents.
• Firefighters attempted to extricate children who were stuck beneath the rubble.
• Paramedics rushed seven children to local hospitals, one of whom later died. Another child died on the scene. 
• Officials towed the bus out of the daycare late Wednesday evening. Police are treating the area as a crime scene.

The victims

• Four-and-a-half year-old Jacob Gauthier was identified as one of the victims of the crash in an obituary posted online Friday.
• A funeral will be held for him Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima church.
• The identity of the second young victim has not been made public.

WATCH | Young victim's family share their pain:

Family members struggle to find words after service

2 years ago

Duration 1:00

The great-uncle and great-grandmother of 4½-year-old Laval, Que., daycare tragedy victim Jacob Gauthier shared their emotions Friday.

The suspect

• A neighbour said the driver of the bus emerged from the vehicle after the crash and began tearing off his clothes and yelling incoherently. 
• Police identified him as Pierre Ny St-Amand, 51.
• Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer said St-Amand was an STL employee for about 10 years. 
• He drove the 151 bus route — which runs between Montreal's Côte-Vertu Metro station and Laval's Sainte-Rose neighbourhood, and stopped near the daycare — according to Radio-Canada. He was working on Wednesday morning, according to the STL.
• The Quebec association of private daycares told Radio-Canada there was no known link between the suspect and the daycare.
• Lionel Carmant, the minister responsible for social services, said St-Amand was not on a waiting list to receive mental health services.

The investigation and legal process

• St-Amand is facing nine charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon causing bodily harm.
• He appeared in court on Wednesday via a video link from a hospital bed in Montreal's Sacré-Cœur hospital.
• The appearance was delayed as officers in the room struggled to control St-Amand. He nodded his head during the appearance and a doctor requested that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine his level of "dangerousness," but the judge did not order one. 
• The Crown prosecutor and the defence agreed he was fit enough to continue the trial process.
• He is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 17.
• Neighbours described St-Amand as calm and normal.
• Laval police said they are still investigating and do not know the motive behind the crash.

WATCH | Parents explain 'horrible' scene after crash :

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.